Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard did not have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but he still managed to add eight new players to his roster. He focused mostly on the defense. That unit was arguably behind the offense in terms of talent last season, and then proceeded to suffer multiple departures this offseason.
Ballard may well have loved all of the players he drafted, but it is not hard to argue that many of them were drafted out of need. Perhaps only fourth-round pick Jalen Farmer was chosen purely because Ballard considered him too good a talent to pass up. The Kentucky product plays guard, and Indianapolis does not have a glaring hole at that spot.
For all the others, no matter how talented, they were chosen at least in part to fill a roster hole. That, in turn, suggests that some of the existing Colts need to step up their game or risk seeking a new team next season.
These three Indianapolis Colts veterans should heed the draft’s wake-up call
Michael Clemons, edge rusher
The Colts signed the young veteran to a three-year, $17 million contract in March. With a $3 million signing bonus and guarantees, it would seem odd for Ballard to let him go before he ever plays a down for the Colts.
But Ballard then snagged back-to-back edge prospects in the fifth and sixth rounds of the draft. George Gumbs and Caden Curry both have a world of talent despite being at different stages of development.
Gumbs is a recent convert to the edge who has plenty of athletic ability in need of refinement. Curry is a very productive, tough player who has squared off with the best in the college game.
Both could make big impressions this summer. If they do, Clemons could be looking at an uphill battle with Laiatu Latu entrenched at one spot, and Arden Key and JT Tuimoloau better positioned to claim roles this season.
Jaylon Carlies, linebacker
Edge rusher wasn’t the only position where Ballard doubled down. After getting Georgia’s CJ Allen with his first pick in round two, the GM took Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher in the fourth round. The two rookies could easily be lining up side by side as starters come opening day.
Taking two players with relatively high picks suggests the Colts know they are struggling at linebacker. Carlies was at one time penciled in to take over for EJ Speed when he left via free agency in 2024. But the promising coverage linebacker was injured and never seized his spot.
When he returned last year, he was still stuck, even though the Colts were clearly not enamored with any of their front-line linebackers. They brought in veteran Akeem Gaither-Davis as a free agent and now have invested in two draft picks. There may still be room for Carlies, but his window appears to be shrinking.
DJ Giddens, running back
We have talked a lot about Ballard’s failure to find an adequate backup for star running back Jonathan Taylor. Last year, plenty of scouts thought he had succeeded when he got Giddens in the fifth round. But Giddens' rookie season was essentially a washout.
Despite having the way cleared for him through injuries to other backs, the Colts ultimately chose journeyman Ameer Abdullah as Taylor’s primary relief, barely using Giddens in any capacity. Since he lacks obvious special teams skill, if he is not going to back up Taylor, there doesn’t seem to be a role for him.
Ballard drafted Seth McGowan, a big power runner out of Kentucky, in the seventh round. There is nothing fancy about McGowan. He is just a tough runner who gains the yards that are available and falls forward at the end.
He is a willing blocker, and though he never showed much as a receiver, he seems to be effective in the screen game when given the chance. In other words, McGowan is never going to threaten JT, but he can supply what the Colts really need out of a backup. Solid production and tough running so that Taylor can get some rest.
Whether the Colts would really give up on a second-year player like Giddens or a brand new free agent like Clemons is an open question. But any fringe veteran needs to begin performing as though his job is on the line. After this year’s draft, many of those jobs are.
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