The Indianapolis Colts are going to have to be winners in the second round of the next two NFL drafts. That is because the team traded its next two first-round selections to the New York Jets in return for cornerback Sauce Gardner. For a team that likes to build through the draft, they've made things tougher.
Assuming that Indy re-signs quarterback Daniel Jones next offseason, and, hopefully, wide receiver Alec Pierce, the team might need to focus on defensive prospects early in the next draft. Things might get complicated if right tackle Braden Smith leaves in free agency.
Let's assume Smith is back, too, though. If that happens, fans know several things about the depth chart of the Colts for 2026. One is that the secondary is set and quite good. The inside linebacker group is slightly devalued in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's system, so that shouldn't be a grave need either.
Indianapolis Colts need help along the defensive line in the 2026 NFL draft
That spot is exactly where The Athletic's Dane Brugler thinks Indy goes with its first choice in the 2026 draft, however. In his latest mock, Brugler has the Colts choosing Cincinnati's Jake Golday, and in doing so, Indianapolis remedies its nagging issue of poor off-ball linebacker coverage.
Golday is very athletic and can run sideline to sideline with ease, and he wouldn't be a terrible choice overall, but he also doesn't fit one of the Colts' most glaring needs. That lies along the defensive line, where the team must begin to get younger.
DeForest Buckner has been tremendous for six years in Indy, but he will be 32 years old at the beginning of next season. He is also struggling with a neck problem currently, and that has a chance of being a long-lasting issue.
Grover Stewart is already 32 years old, and while he is still solid, how much longer can the team count on him? Assuming Buckner and Stewart return next season, the Colts need to begin adding young talent now to take over fully when Buckner and Stewart are gone. Jake Golday won't do that.
Better options for the Indianapolis Colts would be Golday's Cincinnati teammate, Dontay Corleone, or Georgia's Christen Miller, both of whom should be available in the second round. Corleone dealt with blood clots earlier in his college career, but he seems fine now and would be brilliant against the run.
Miller could rise up draft boards depending on how well he tests, but he is 6'4" and 310 pounds and has been well-coached in college. He could be a Week 1 starter next to Stewart and Buckner.