The Indianapolis Colts' 2025 season has come to an end. This season was an absolute rollercoaster for fans, as not many had high expectations for the 2025 season, but then the Colts started the season 7-1 and looked to be a surefire lock for the playoffs.
Unfortunately, things went downhill not long after. While they sat at 8-2 ahead of their Week 11 bye, the Colts started to unravel bit by bit. A loss to the Chiefs began a streak of six straight losses, and with their loss to the Texans in Week 18, the Colts dropped seven straight games to end the 2025 campaign.
Before their losing streak began, the Colts were all-in and traded their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks in exchange for Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. While Gardner is a good player, Colts fans now can look back and wonder why that trade had to happen because now the Colts don't even benefit from having a decently high draft pick.
Indianapolis Colts move for Sauce Gardner looks even worse with 2026 draft order
Here's where the non-playoff teams will be drafting, barring any trades, per Tankathon:
Number | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
1 | Las Vegas Raiders | 3-14 |
2 | New York Jets | 3-14 |
3 | Arizona Cardinals | 3-14 |
4 | Tennessee Titans | 3-14 |
5 | New York Giants | 4-13 |
6 | Cleveland Browns | 5-12 |
7 | Washington Commanders | 5-12 |
8 | New Orleans Saints | 6-11 |
9 | Kansas City Chiefs | 6-11 |
10 | Cincinnati Bengals | 6-11 |
11 | Miami Dolphins | 7-10 |
12 | Dallas Cowboys | 7-9-1 |
13 | Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons) | 8-9 |
14 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8-9 |
15 | New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts) | 8-9 |
16 | Baltimore Ravens | 8-8* |
17 | Detroit Lions | 9-8 |
18 | Minnesota Vikings | 9-8 |
Had the Colts not made the trade for Sauce Gardner, and things played out the same way, they'd have held the 15th pick in the draft. Now, the Jets get the 15th pick in the draft, along with possibly the second pick in the draft as well (assuming they lose to Buffalo in the late window).
This is a tough pill for Colts fans to swallow because not only did their team have an epic collapse in the second half of the season, but now they don't have a first-round pick to look forward to.
Hopefully, this offseason is a good one for Indy, and Chris Ballard can add help to make up for not having a first-round pick. Ballard swung for the fences when making the trade for Gardner, and while it didn't pay off for the Colts this season, maybe it'll pay off down the road.