Day two of the 2026 NFL Draft is here, and the Indianapolis Colts can finally begin making their selections. General manager Chris Ballard essentially sat out Thursday night, having dealt away his first-round pick as part of the Sauce Gardner trade last season.
The Colts are far from alone. They are one of eight teams without a pick in the first round. Some, like Indianapolis, entered the process without a pick, while others traded out last night. But that’s all over now, and Ballard will begin rebuilding a roster that still has a lot of stars...and a lot of holes. Particularly on defense.
Indy has the 15th pick in the round, number 47 overall. And even though nothing that happened on Thursday should have a major impact on the selection, things went about as well as fans could have hoped.
Who are likely to be the best prospects available for the Indianapolis Colts on Day 2?
With Ty Simpson, Caleb Banks, and Jadarian Price all going in the first round, it may make it easier for Ballard to find one of the players he most covets. Those players were not first-round locks, and with the possible exception of Banks, none were likely in the Colts' plans.
Who is in the Colts plans?
It has been apparent for a while that the most obvious roster hole is at linebacker. Zaire Franklin was traded, and Germaine Pratt remains a free agent. They handled almost all of the linebacking duties for Lou Anarumo last season. As of now, Indy has very little proven experience to step into those roles.
Fortunately, there are still several very promising linebacker prospects on the board, and some figure to be available when Indy’s pick comes up. They include…
CJ Allen, Georgia
Scouts have been torn regarding Georgia’s tough middle linebacker. Some have a first-round grade on him, and of all the Colts’ possible targets, he is the one most likely to be off the board at 47
But if he is still there, Ballard would have a very hard time looking past him. He plays fast in the middle of the field. He can make tackles and can operate in zone cover schemes.
If he were a couple of inches taller, Allen may well have been drafted by now, but at 6’1”, some scouts have questioned whether he will get lost in the middle of the scrum. This is akin to the debates over players like Reuben Bain, who were highly productive but lacked the ideal physical profile.
All you really need to know is that ESPN’s Matt Miller named Roquan Smith as a pro comp for Allen, and if that’s even close, the Colts could really use him.
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Like Allen, Rodriguez lacks the length that NFL teams covet in a middle linebacker. Only two linebackers went in the first round – both from Ohio State – both 6’4." Rodriguez, who, like CJ Allen, is 6’1," may be the most well-rounded of them all.
He not only had an exceptional 2025 for Texas Tech with over 100 tackles and seven forced fumbles, but he was also a monster in coverage, recording four interceptions and six additional break-ups. Rodriguez was a high school quarterback who seemed to have a rare gift for seeing route concepts early and making aggressive plays on the ball.
He put up big numbers in both 2024 and 2025, which suggests his numerous national awards last year (Bednarik, Butkus, Nagurski…) were not flukes.
Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Golday is the flip side of Allen and Rodriguez. Physically, he has it all. Almost 6’5” and just under 240 pounds, he still flashes both straight line speed and quickness. If he continues to develop, it is easy to imagine him as a future plus-starter.
Golday is a riskier choice than either of the first two prospects. He does not have their experience against high-end competition. It is hard to know how quickly he will get comfortable at the next level, and the Colts need help immediately.
Nonetheless, given his physical attributes and his all-around potential, he may have the highest ceiling of any available linebacking prospect. He would be able to help out as a pass rusher, another area where the Colts defense needs a talent boost.
Anthony Hill, Jr., Texas
I have been high on Hill all season, but like CJ Allen, scouts’ opinions vary quite a bit. Physically, I’m not sure you could ask for a better linebacker prospect. He has the blend of size, power, and speed that should make him excel as he develops. He also plays with an inherent nastiness that is essential for a linebacker.
The knock on Hill this season has mostly centered on his instincts. As opposed to Jacob Rodriguez, who seems to diagnose plays before they happen, Hill looks to be more of a reactive player.
Whether that is a limiting factor or something that can be improved upon with coaching is an open question. But even if Hill never grows into an All-Pro, his athleticism and tenacity suggest a tough high-floor player with the potential for a lot more.
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