On paper, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard has not had a very good offseason. His two biggest roster moves involved retaining players from last season. He needed to work out a deal with quarterback Daniel Jones, which he did. Ballard deserves credit for that.
He also earned plaudits for re-upping Alec Pierce. The ascending receiver was in high demand, and the fact that he is staying with the Colts is almost as much of a symbolic triumph as a vital roster move.
But the cost Ballard has paid has been very steep. He has lost three starters from last year’s squad to other teams and has not yet re-signed a fourth. Even more significantly, salary cap demands forced him to trade away two team leaders. He lost several quality depth pieces as well.
How the Indianapolis Colts can restock through the draft
Of course, he also held onto some of his own lower-tier free agents and brought in a raft of new players. However, the Colts’ GM has been shopping the sales racks of NFL free agents. Leaving aside Jones and Pierce, the biggest contract he handed out was a three-year/$17 million deal to edge rusher Michael Clemons. He also paid edge Arden Key 16 million over two years.
Every other deal was rock bottom. One year. A couple topped two million dollars. Most were under that. With very few exceptions, the new players are pushing 30 years old or older.
As a whole. It is reasonable to say that right now, the Colts 2026 roster is older and less talented than the one that took the field in 2025.
However, the draft is coming. Ballard has seven picks. Unfortunately, he does not have a first-rounder, but he does have seven picks with which to replenish his roster with young talent.
NFL.com’s Eric Edholm recently projected the best picks for each team in the first two rounds of the upcoming draft. Actually, he was choosing each team’s first two picks, so for the Colts, that meant the best pick in the second and third rounds. To do this, Edholm considered each team’s most pressing needs.
I have never liked drafting for need. I admit that it is sometimes necessary, but in general, I think GMs are better served by taking the best player available in almost every case. That said, I recognize that no rigid philosophy works every time. So today, with Edholm’s column as inspiration, I’m going to consider the Colts’ roster and suggest a pick that fits a need in each round.
This isn’t exactly a mock draft, but I did use standard ADPs (average draft positions) to identify my targets.
First of all, let’s agree on the holes.
At linebacker, Indianapolis will not have Zaire Franklin and, at least for now, does not have Germaine Pratt – the two starters in 2025. Ballard has signed Akeem Davis-Gaither and has Jaylon Carlies on his roster. They are the only two current linebackers with even minimal starting experience. Linebacker would appear to be priority number one.
Ballard traded former top receiver Michael Pittman, Jr., paving the way for Pierce to take over that spot. He signed Nick Westbrook as a mid-level temporary fill-in. I like Westbrook, but at 29, he is not a long-term answer.
Starting edge Kwity Paye is gone, as is rotational backup Samson Ekuban. Tyquan Lewis remains a free agent. Key and Clemons figure to take over their spots.
Safety Nick Cross signed with Washington. Ballard already had second-year player Hunter Wohlers, and he brought in young vet Juanyeh Thomas to compete for that position.
Finally, long-time right tackle Braden Smith left Indy. Jalen Travis in slated to be his replacement.
Considering this, I would say linebacker and safety are the most immediate needs, with wide receiver and edge close behind. So, which players might be available for Ballard if he prioritizes filling needs?
In round two, Edholm suggests the Colts address the major hole at linebacker with Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez. Hard for me to argue since I had the same player in my latest mock draft. Texas’s high-ceiling Anthony Hill might also be an option with the 47th pick.
In the third round, Edholm has Ballard going with receiver Antonio Williams from Clemson. I would have no problem with that pick, but I think they might get better value looking at a safety. Someone like South Carolina’s Jalen Kilgore or USC’s Kamari Ramsey would be a good choice to challenge for Cross’s spot.
I’m also skipping the receiver spot in round four because I think there is a small vein of quality edge rushers who will represent excellent value in the middle of the draft.
These are mostly highly productive players who simply lack the elite athleticism to propel them into the upper echelons of the draft. I have been able to get Michigan’s Derrick Moore on occasion with this pick, but there’s a pretty good chance he’ll be gone. Alabama’s LT Overton would be a very good stand-in at this point.
In round five, I am finally going for my Michael Pittman replacement. If Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields falls this far, he’s my choice. He is a beast, but his lack of twitch and quickness may see him drop.
If he is gone, there are other prospects worth a gamble at this point, and I may just roll the dice with Navy’s Eli Heidenreich. He is not a Pittman close by any means, but he would add tremendous versatility to the offense.
For round six, I want to double up at linebacker. If Jimmy Rolder is on the board, I’m taking the Michigan product. I think he will be available, but if he is not, I might have to shift to an edge player like Florida’s Tyreak Sapp, whose awkward size may cause him to fall.
Finally, with my two picks in round seven, I think there will be several very intriguing safety prospects – much like Wohlers last year. Texas Tech’s Cole Wisniewski would top my list.
Then, I’m looking for another linebacker or edge. This is where you can take a real flyer on a rare athlete. NC State Cian Stone is too small to be a pro edge, and USC’s Eric Gentry is too tall to be a pro linebacker. But both bring rare traits to the table, and either would be a good gamble at this point.