The Indianapolis Colts only had two picks in the first two days of the 2026 NFL Draft, but as he begins day three, general manager Chris Ballard has six more chances to add to his roster. He addressed defense in rounds two and three with promising prospects at linebacker – CJ Allen – and safety – AJ Haulcy. He still has work to do on defense, but he can also begin addressing needs on offense beginning with two selections in the fourth round.
It was commonly assumed that after losing starters Kwity Paye and Michael Pittman Jr., Ballard would be looking to find young players to quickly contribute at edge rusher and wide receiver.
He might also be interested in help on the interior of the defensive line and at offensive tackle. However, given the relative strengths and weaknesses of this draft class, it seems most likely that the Colts will target the edge and receiver positions with their two picks in round four.
Colts can still find solid taken as the NFL Draft enters its final day
At the wide receiver position, it would make sense for Ballard to focus on bigger, possession-type pass catchers – the type he lost when he traded former WR1 Pittman to the Steelers.
Alec Pierce figures to still run plenty of deep patterns for Daniel Jones and Josh Downs is ensconced in the slot. Finding a receiver who can make tough catches over the middle would be most useful. If he has enough speed to at least worry the defense a little bit, all the better.
Here are three such players who could be available at either of the Colts two 4th-round picks.
Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
A lot of scouts projected that Sarratt would be off the board in round three. His lack of top-end speed may be suppressing his stock. If that is the case, Ballard could pounce on a very productive player.
Sarratt has good size at almost 6’3,” 210 pounds. He is a polished route runner. Best of all, he has shown the ability to make tough catches in the intermediate game. He may not have Pittman’s exceptional strength, but he plays a lot like the former Colts’ star.
Besides, how sweet would it be for Indy to hold onto one of the stars of its college national champion? Sarratt has journeyed from getting virtually no attention coming out of high school to being one of the players coach Curt Cignetti brought with him from James Madison. He has defied expectation at every turn thus far and figures to be productive at the next level.
Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
By now, Bryce Lance has clearly stepped out of the shadow of his older brother Trey, the quarterback prospect who has yet to do anything in the NFL. Despite going to the same college program – the newly-minted FBS team in Fargo – Bryce has had a decidedly different trajectory.
He was not considered a top prospect at virtually any point in his football journey. But he persevered and developed into one of the top receivers in the nation by his final season. The athletic gifts are obvious. Lance boasts a rare combination of size and speed. He will make tough catches and will block.
Over his final two seasons, Lance snagged 126 balls for better than 2,000 yards. He found the end zone 25 times, including an exceptional 17 scores in 2024 alone. He may need to develop the nuances of his route-running to flourish in the middle of the field but he enters the league as a deep threat with the size and toughness to play all over the field.
Skyler Bell, Connecticut
Bell does not boast the size or strength of Sarratt and Lance. Almost every scout I have seen projects him best as a slot in the NFL. I don’t disagree with that assessment, but I think he has more to offer.
Bell runs good routes and has excellent burst which allows him to operate in tight spaces. But he has also built himself into a bigger presence in the middle of the field than his relatively average frame would suggest.
He has a lot of experience, having played in more than 50 college games and he showed continued growth along the way. He vaulted ahead in 2025 with more than 100 catches and 13 touchdowns. He may not be as flashy or as physical as some of the other receivers in this draft, but he remains very productive.
As for the edge rushers, several intriguing players should be in the mix in round four, including …
Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Scouts have been drooling over Dennis-Sutton’s athletic profile. At 6’6,” 256, he would make a formidable bookend with Laiatu Latu on the edge. Despite his length, he put up a very impressive sub-7 3-cone drill at the scouting combine which suggests he may have untapped pass rushing potential.
Against Big 10 competition over the past two years, Dennis-Sutton put up 17 sacks and had double digit tackles-for-loss in each season.
Joshua Josephs, Tennessee
Josephs is not as thick as some of the other edge prospects but he has excellent athleticism, with a good first step and long arms that can disrupt passing lanes and corral ball carriers trying to get outside.
He also has the ability to drop into coverage, something that Lou Anarumo values in his edge players. Josephs only had one season as a full-time starter for Tennessee and he still has developing to do, but the tools are evident. The Colts signed several veterans to help on the edge this season and are still developing JT Tuimoloau, so a player like Josephs could afford to come along at a slower pace.
LT Overton, Alabama
I have already projected Overton as a likely target for Ballard in the fourth round so I won’t belabor the point here. Suffice to say that he looked very promising against elite SEC talent and has all the physical tools you could want in a sturdy, steady edge player.
Chris Ballard has done a good job with fourth-round picks of late, having added Jalen Travis and Tanor Bortolini in each of the last two classes. If he finds equal talent this season, the Colts roster will look a lot better come September.
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