The Indianapolis Colts are 2-7, but the future should be much brighter. The team is open to a rebuild, and through various trades and projected comp picks, the team could have as many as 12 draft picks in 2027.
That should help the rebuild go faster, as long as the new general manager makes better overall decisions than the fired Chris Ballard did. Indy could even miss on a couple next year and still have a strong draft. Maybe one pick could be used on Daniel Jones' eventual replacement.
For the mock draft that follows, Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator was used. Players will rise and fall on draft boards, so some players that follow might not be available in the rounds that they are mocked. Don't worry, though. Many months lie between now and when the 2027 draft happens in April.
Indianapolis Colts post-trade deadline mock draft
Second round - KJ Duff, WR, Rutgers
The Colts have lacked a big receiver who can use his size to get open, and that is exactly who Duff is. He is 6'6" and 225 pounds, but he does need to improve his route running and his ability to get separation. His size works great in college, but won't work as well in the NFL.
He does have real promise, though, and he'd be a find in the second round. His draft stock might fall a bit, too, as he recently had ankle surgery, though he is expected to resume football activity by January.
Third round - Bear Alexander, DT, Oregon
Alexander is more of a pure replacement for Grover Stewart, whether Stewart returns in 2026 or not, as Alexander is 6'3" and 315 pounds and should be a plug-and-play run-stopper in the league. He will need to work on his pass-rush prowess, but there is nothing in his skill set to imply he can't.
Third round - Junior Sherrill, WR, Vanderbilt
The 5'11" and 200-pound receiver would likely be the replacement for Josh Downs. Sherrill tends to struggle with physical man coverage on the outside, but he can find holes on defense from the slot. He has solid speed and can also help on special teams by returning kicks.
Fourth round - Romanas Frederique Jr., CB, Miami (FL)
The cornerback has good speed and is expected to run close to a 4.4-second 40-yard dash in drills. He also has quality size at 6 feet and 195 pounds. He wouldn't be expected to start right away, as Charvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner are still under contract in 2027, but Frederique could eventually replace Ward, who is 30 years old now.
Fourth round - Anto Saka, Edge rusher, Texas A&M
Saka has the frame to add muscle, which he will need to do to hold up in run defense. He might begin his career as a rotational pass rusher, as he has long arms to keep would-be blockers at bay and the quickness to get around them.
The edge rusher also has a lot of college experience. He began at Northwestern before transferring to A&M and has gotten a lot of reps. That should help him acclimate to the NFL faster.
Fourth round - Peter Clarke, TE, Temple
The current coaching staff for the Colts loves their tight ends, and while a new coaching staff might not quite as much, having extra tight ends on the roster has become the norm in recent seasons. The 6'6" and 265-pound Clarke is a decent blocker, but fast for his size, and could give Indy another receiving threat at the position.
Fifth round - Amare Ferrell, S, Indiana
Keeping Ferrell near the college he went to makes sense, though he could trend toward being more of a special teams contributor at the next level. He is 6'2" and 205 pounds, with a high football IQ, but he isn't overly fast or physical, so he could be exposed in deep coverage.
Fifth round - Drake Lindsey, QB, Minnesota
The quarterback is 6'5" and 230 pounds and is more of a traditional passer. He doesn't offer high-end athleticism, which is why he could fall in the draft. He does have a strong arm and great touch, so for an offensive coordinator that doesn't need a mobile quarterback, Lindsey could develop into a starter.
Fifth round - Tre Richardson, WR, Louisville
Richardson is an explosive athlete who bounced around in college, and that might be a concern for some front offices. The question is why he didn't find one long-term home.
Still, at 5'10" and 180 pounds, he could be the deep threat to pair with Alec Pierce. He is also sensational as a kick returner, and that could be where he makes his initial impact.
Sixth round - Cam Cook, RB, West Virginia
The running back is shifty with brilliant quickness, and he led the FBS in rushing in 2025 with 1,659 yards. He has shown a penchant for fumbling, however, and that is likely to push him down draft boards. Even though the Colts have Jonathan Taylor and Seth McGowan, the team could use a long-term RB3.
Sixth round - Koron Hayward, Edge rusher, TCU
At 6'5" and 250 pounds, Hayward has decent size, but he isn't good against the run, which means he is purely a rotational player on obvious passing downs. He might not have the ability to gain much muscle mass, so his ceiling might always be low.
Seventh round - Tyree Adams, OT, Texas A&M
Adams has great size at 6'7" and 305 pounds, but not much athleticism. This could mean that he doesn't get drafted at all, but he could turn out to be a long-term quality backup and therefore worth taking in the seventh round.
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