The Indianapolis Colts decided not to take an edge rusher with one of their first two picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, Indy went with a needed high-end player at inside linebacker and then a replacement for outgoing safety Nick Cross. Edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. didn't come along until the fifth round.
One might wonder how much higher Gumbs would have gone had he played defensive end for most of his college career. He didn't. He started on offense and then transitioned to edge rusher after a few seasons. Was the move difficult for Gumbs?
When asked by the media recently, Gumbs conveyed an honest and funny response, "My head coach (in college) moved me going into my third year...Originally, getting moved from wide receiver to tight end. I’m like, ‘I don’t wanna do this. I’m not trying to block nobody. I’m trying to go catch a touchdown, brother.’...He just changed my mindset to embrace everything, and I just took that same mindset going from tight end to D-end."
Indianapolis Colts rookie George Gumbs Jr. drops funny take on changing positions
What speaks volumes for the player is that he did transition to his newest position so easily and well enough to turn into the kind of player a team would want to choose in the 2026 draft. He didn't produce massive numbers at either Northern Illinois or Florida, where he finished his college career, but he did show off a lot of athleticism.
He also did that during the pre-draft process. The nearly 6'5" and 245-pound Gumbs was timed at 4.66 in the 40-yard dash, had a 41-inch vertical jump, and a 10-yard split of 1.67. Those aren't elite numbers for a wide receiver, of course, but they are fantastic for an edge rusher.
Gumbs will join a rotation, assuming he makes the team, that includes the established Laiatu Latu (by far the Colts' best edge rusher in 2025) and Arden Key, but also Jaylahn Tuimoloau, who was invisible in his rookie season last year.
Indianapolis' pass-rush group isn't deep, and the only other player at Gumbs' spot that Indianapolis chose in the draft was sixth-rounder Caden Curry. Curry is more of a powerful player but lacks Gumbs' high-end athleticism.
If Gumbs can perform well in training camp and the preseason, he could show that he is worth being given a lot of reps when real games start. The Indianapolis Colts have to find a couple of edge rushers who will help Latu. There is no reason Gumbs can't be one of them.
What is certain is that George Gumbs Jr. will bring a likeable and funny approach to football. He could be a fan-favorite soon. Let's just hope he is a highly productive one.
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