When Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard dealt for cornerback Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline, he took a chance on more than the team making the playoffs this season. He bet Indy's future a bit as well. He gave the New York Jets two future first-round choices for the CB.
Indianapolis could really have used the first-round pick in 2026. The team might have made a play for a quarterback and then hoped that the QB developed into a long-term starter. That kind of selection is less likely to happen in the second round and beyond.
Still, the Colts will have several good choices for who will help the team in the future, especially defensively. Indy's offense should be fine with Shane Steichen still in charge and a good offensive line, but if the defense can improve, Indianapolis can finally make the playoffs again.
Indianapolis Colts could upgrade their defense with one of these four picks in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft
Linebacker Jake Golday - Cincinnati
Golday is exactly the kind of off-ball linebacker that defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo needs (assuming that Anarumo is still with the Colts and doesn't get a head coaching job this offseason). The Cincinnati product is extremely athletic with excellent coverage skills.
Anarumo's scheme doesn't need inside linebackers to produce much in terms of sacks, but ideally, they would shut down the run by being able to run sideline-to-sideline with great speed, while closing down the middle of the field in pass coverage. At 6'4" and 240 pounds which his quickness, Golday should do that.
Edge rusher Zion Young - Missouri
Young's production truly took off this season at Missouri. His tackles for loss went up by 11, and his sacks jumped by four. At 6'5" and 260 pounds, he has the quickness that will allow him to get around offensive tackles in the NFL, but he has the strength to be stout against the run.
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He also has long arms, which allow him to keep from being grabbed and held much. The issue is that if he tests well, he could make a jump into the first round, where Indianapolis would obviously not be able to take him.
Edge rusher LT Overton - Alabama
Overton is 6'5" and 280 pounds with the kind of frame where he could add more weight. He is a well-rounded edge rusher who can play on all three downs. He may never reach 10 sacks, but he has the strength to collapse pockets and force a quarterback to feel nervous.
His immediate strength might come from setting a hard edge against the run. He would play opposite ascending third-year pro Laiatu Latu, and his presence might allow Latu to get north of 10 sacks. The duo could form a formidable one for the Colts for the foreseeable future.
Defensive lineman Lee Hunter - Texas Tech
At 6'4" and 330 pounds, Hunter is exactly the kind of player who will eventually, if not immediately, replace Grover Stewart. Indy has to get younger in its front seven, and Hunter has the strength and girth to help shut down opposing run games for years to come.
He isn't quick, and he isn't overly athletic, but that's not what he needs to be. He needs to be a rock that is difficult to move off his spot, and that he is. He might never be extremely productive in terms of pass rush, but his run-stopping ability is likely going to be elite.