Before early March, mock drafts are fun. But they aren’t especially informative. This is especially true for a team like the Indianapolis Colts, which does not have a pick in the first round of this year’s draft. Then two things happen, and the mocks become much more grounded in reality.
First, there’s the NFL Scouting Combine. Teams get a firsthand look at hundreds of prospects side by side. They rev up the in-person meeting process, which is often more significant than hand size or a short shuttle time.
And then, free agency begins. GMs begin reshaping their roster. Perhaps a team was projected to choose a wide receiver in the first round of most mock drafts. Then they go out and acquire Mike Evans and Christian Kirk as free agents. Maybe the mock draft changes as well.
Indianapolis Colts begin filling holes in new mock draft
Pro Football Focus (subscription required) released a three-round mock draft this past weekend. As we get closer to the actual event, the mocks will get bigger, which will allow Indianapolis fans to finally get in on the fun.
Up ‘til now, most mocks have focused on the first round. At present, Chris Ballard has no pick in the first round either this year or next. He traded them for Sauce Gardner last season.
But there are always good players available in every round. Four-fifths of Indy’s projected starting offensive line this year came in rounds three and four. So who did PFF choose for the Colts in rounds two and three this year?
Round two, pick 47: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
At first glance, Bell would appear to be a plug-and-play replacement for Michael Pittman, Jr. He has Pittman’s impressive size – 6’2”, 222 pounds. But at this point in his development, he is a different type of receiver. Bell has far more straight-line speed than Pittman, and he put it to use at Louisville, especially in 2024, when he averaged better than 17 yards per catch on 43 receptions.
He will be an immediate deep threat in the NFL, but it will take time for him to develop the intermediate game that Pittman was so good at.
Therefore, though he resembled Pittman physically, he would be better suited to step into the role that Alec Pierce has played during his first four seasons – stretching the field with deep patterns. That would complement Pierce as he takes over the WR1 role and limits his deep patterns.
Bell tore his ACL late in the 2025 season, and teams will be monitoring his recovery. According to all published reports, he is progressing nicely. The injury could certainly limit his offseason preparation, and that would carry over into his rookie campaign.
But it does not appear to be a serious concern. Bell could provide Shane Steichen with a dangerous option to Pierce, Josh Downs, and Tyler Warren in the passing game.
Round three, pick 78: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
After trading Zaire Franklin and failing to add any established linebacker via free agency, Indy’s second level of defense is a black hole. They currently have no linebacker with any real NFL experience. I have speculated that Lou Anarumo may be charting new territory with a no-linebacker defense.
That isn’t exactly a practical idea. So enter Kyle Louis, a tackling machine who happens to be outstanding in coverage as well. The only reason Louis will be available in round three is his size. He’s a classic tweener. There will be safeties in the league next year who are bigger than the 6’0”, 220-pounder from East Orange.
But he is a tenacious player, and a creative coach like Anarumo will be able to find ways to take advantage of his natural aggressiveness. If Chris Ballard ultimately re-signs Germaine Pratt, or any other more traditional interior linebacker, an athlete like Louis would be a very good partner on the weak side of the defense.
Picks in the second and third rounds are crucial in any draft. Two years ago, the Giants and Texans got starting safeties with the 47th and 78th pick. The latter – 2024 third-rounder Calen Bullock – is already a Pro Bowler for Houston.
Without a first-round pick this year, it is even more imperative that Ballard get his second and third-rounders right.