There’s just one week to go before the Indianapolis Colts have to make their first pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and chaos still abounds. Everything after the first overall pick remains up in the air. And this week, reports surfaced of multiple teams trying to entice the Las Vegas Raiders into trading that top pick.
It is still a virtual lock that Tom Brady and company hold onto that selection and make Fernando Mendoza their QB of the future at pick number one, but this year, can we really be sure about anything?
One thing we do know is that, barring something completely unforeseen, Chris Ballard and the Colts do not have a first-round pick. The general manager traded it in the deal that brought Sauce Gardner to town last year.
Indianapolis Colts’ 7-round best player available draft
So, despite having the standard number of picks – seven – Ballard is working from a position of relative weakness. Coming off the epic collapse of the 2025 season, this is almost certainly a draft that will determine how much longer he remains in charge.
We are going to do a mock draft based entirely on “best player available” (BPA). There is usually a debate between taking the highest player on your board or giving added weight to positions of need, and every GM has to work out their own way of balancing between the two imperatives.
Let's make it simple. We just take whoever we have at the top of our board when Indy’s pick comes around, positions be damned.
Round 2, pick 47 – R. Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
We are lucky that our top player at 47 happens to come at a position of need. Despite having signed multiple edge rushers to join Laiatu Latu in the coming season, all are journeymen who do not project as a long-term answer for one of the Colts’ biggest problems.
Thomas, an undersized but very effective pass rusher, should help apply pressure. His relative lack of bulk – 242 pounds – and length – 31.5-inch arms – raises questions about his ability as an early down defender.
But he consistently excelled at harassing opposing QBs against elite competition in college and Lou Anarumo desperately needs someone to balance Latu.
Round 3, pick, 78 – Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
I did not intend to take a second consecutive Oklahoma Sooner, nor did I intend to take a receiver this high, but that’s how the board played out. And in today’s NFL, you could always use an explosive receiving threat. Burks is an intriguing talent with multiple contradictions in his profile.
Based on his relative lack of size – just under 5’10” and 180 pounds – he would seem to be a slot-only option. But he has remarkable strength, as witnessed by his 26 bench press reps at the combine, to go along with exceptional speed and quickness.
With all that physical talent, you might have expected more from him in college, which could be a cause for concern. However, with Alec Pierce moving into a bigger role this year, Burks would be primed to pick up what Pierce has done for the Colts’ offense over the past couple of seasons as a downfield threat.
Round 4, pick 113 – Will Lee, CB, Texas A&M
Under normal circumstances, I would have chosen safety Bud Clark, who was still available when it came time for this pick. Lee offers a higher upside, though with Ballard already invested in Gardner and Charvarius Ward, cornerback is not a priority. It would be different if Lee could play the slot role that Kenny Moore will be surrendering this season.
But Lee is a tall perimeter corner all the way. He has great physical gifts, but was inconsistent in college and will likely need time to refine his game in the NFL. That actually fits very well, given Indy’s current depth at the position. Taking a player like Lee, who could pay big dividends down the road, is what going with a BPA draft strategy is all about.
Round 5, pick 156 – Diego Pounds, OT, Ole Miss
Pounds is a prototypical left tackle. He excelled in his one healthy season at Ole Miss, standing up to the best in the SEC with little trouble. He is long and powerful, with very good feet. Questions remain about his ability to become an equally effective run blocker, but he certainly has the tools.
The bigger question may end up being whether he can easily shift between the left and right side, because as a Colt, his primary job would be to take over the swing tackle spot that Jalen Travis played last season.
Round 6, pick 214 – Tyren Montgomery, WR, John Carroll
Given their roster configuration, there is almost no chance Ballard would take the popular sleeper Montgomery, and in this particular draft, since I have already drafted Deion Burks, I would not take him here. However, this is why we do these exercises. Montgomery is a fascinating prospect who has been overwhelmingly productive.
Though far from a burner, Montgomery is a good enough athlete to deserve a long look. He is that very rare seventh-year senior, having bounced all around the lower levels of college football before piling up more than 2,500 yards and 32 touchdowns in his final two years at D3 John Carroll.
Round 7, pick 249 – Eric Gentry, LB, USC
Gentry is another very intriguing athlete. At almost 6’7”, he is taller than most linebackers. Weighing 221 pounds, he is lighter than plenty of safeties. He moves well in space and can be a real unicorn as a pass defender. The problem is whether he is physically strong enough to play in the middle of the field.
The Colts desperately need linebacking help, and in a different type of draft, I would have claimed a more traditional tackling machine by this point. That is not what Gentry provides, but he still would be fun to watch.
Round 7, pick 254 – Luke Altmyer, QB, Illinois
I admit that I had to make a call here because I currently have three different QBs ranked dead even at this spot. I have no problem taking a projected depth quarterback at this point, even though I think Riley Leonard should be given every chance to cement his role as Daniel Jones’ primary backup (assuming Anthony Richardson is eventually traded).
I went with Altmyer over more physically gifted prospects, Sawyer Robertson and Haynes King, because his game is more polished. If I’m taking a backup QB, I’m not looking to pull a rabbit out of a hat. I just want someone whom I can trust to perform in a pinch.
All in all, this didn’t turn out too badly. Going with a BPA strategy is more about building for the future than trying to patch a hole. With the unbalanced roster the Colts currently have, that isn’t such a bad idea.
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