The Indianapolis Colts had to be patient to open the 2026 NFL Draft. Without a first-round pick, they were stuck watching everyone else make moves on Thursday night. But once Day 2 arrived, things escalated quickly.
First came a trade-down with the Pittsburgh Steelers to stockpile extra picks. Then came a splash: CJ Allen, a linebacker some draftniks had projected as a first-rounder. From there, the momentum didn’t stop.
By the end of the weekend, the Colts had put together one of the more intriguing draft classes in the league — even without picking until No. 53 overall. They addressed clear needs at linebacker and edge rusher, consistently found value, and added a mix of high-upside athletes and proven producers. This is a Colts class that features everything from a former 185-pound wide receiver turned 250-pound edge rusher to a safety who earned all-conference honors in three different leagues.
So which picks stand out the most? And which ones lag behind? Let’s rank all eight selections.
Colts 2026 draft picks
- Round 2, Pick 53: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
- Round 3, Pick 78: A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
- Round 4, Pick 113: Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky
- Round 4, Pick 135: Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
- Round 5, Pick 156: George Gumbs Jr., EDGE, Florida
- Round 6, Pick 214: Caden Curry, DE, Ohio State
- Round 7, Pick 237: Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky
- Round 7, Pick 254: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
BEST PICK: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia (Round 2, Pick 53)
The earliest pick isn’t always the best one — but this time, it was.
Linebacker wasn’t just a need for the Colts. It was the need. And when Allen was on the board at No. 53, the value was too good to pass up.
The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder broke out early at Georgia, starting five games as a true freshman before turning into one of the most productive linebackers in the country. In 2025, he racked up 88 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles on his way to first-team All-American honors.
The likely reason he lasted this long? A meniscus injury that required a procedure in November.
The Colts weren’t worried.
“I mean, he’s a face-of-the-program type of guy,” GM Chris Ballard said. “He’s a really special dude.”
If Allen is healthy, this could end up looking like a first-round talent taken in the middle of Round 2 — and he should have a chance to start right away.
SECOND-BEST: A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU (Round 3, Pick 78)
The Colts were looking to replace Nick Cross, who started all 17 games the past two seasons before going to the Commanders, and this is about as close as they could get in this draft.
Haulcy has taken an unusual path — playing at New Mexico, Houston and LSU — but all he’s done at every stop is produce. He earned all-conference honors in three different leagues, which tells you everything about his consistency.
He also fills up the stat sheet.
“Takes the ball away,” Ballard said. “He’s physical.”
Haulcy racked up 10 interceptions over four seasons and didn’t commit a single penalty across 702 defensive snaps in 2025. That combination of playmaking and discipline should give him a real shot to start early in his career.
THIRD-BEST: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma (Round 7, Pick 274)
Burks ran a 4.3-second 40 at the combine, ranking fifth among wide receivers, and showed legit production at both Purdue and Oklahoma. In most projections, he was expected to go somewhere on Day 2, possibly in Round 3.
Instead, the Colts got him with the 254th pick. That’s roughly 100 spots later than where some boards had him ranked.
There are reasons he fell. He’s undersized at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, and some teams see him as more of a straight-line, vertical threat than a complete receiver.
But the speed is real. And for a team that needed help at receiver after moving on from Michael Pittman Jr. — though Burks is nothing like the big-bodied Pittman — this is a low-risk, high-upside swing.
Getting that at the very end of the draft? That’s a win.
FOURTH-BEST: George Gumbs Jr., EDGE, Florida (Round 5, Pick 156)
This pick might be a slight reach based on where Gumbs was projected — but it’s easy to see what the Colts are betting on. The potential is enormous.
Gumbs was a 185-pound wide receiver in high school, then walked on at Northern Illinois, where he transitioned to tight end before eventually landing at edge.
Now he’s 6-foot-4, 245 pounds with elite traits: a 4.66-second 40 and a 41-inch vertical.
He’s still raw, and a knee injury shortened his 2025 season, but he showed flashes at Florida with 7.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss across two seasons.
This is a classic traits-over-production pick — and if it hits, it could hit big.
FIFTH-BEST: Caden Curry, EDGE, Ohio State (Round 6, Pick 214)
Curry had to wait his turn at Ohio State, but when he finally got it, he delivered.
In 2025, he posted 66 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks — finishing second in the Big Ten in sacks. Not bad for someone who wasn’t even the most hyped defender on his own team.
He’s not the flashiest prospect, but he’s productive, tough against the run and comes with a high floor.
There’s also a local angle here: Curry grew up just outside Indianapolis and now gets to play for the team he rooted for as a kid.
If he outperforms his draft slot, it won’t surprise anyone.
SIXTH-BEST: Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky (Round 4, Pick 113)
From a pure athletic standpoint, this pick is fascinating.
Farmer is 6-foot-5, 312 pounds — and ran a 4.93-second 40-yard dash. That’s one of the fastest times by a guard in decades.
The upside is clear, but this is more of a developmental move.
He started 24 games at Kentucky after transferring from Florida, but he’s likely to sit early in his career with Matt Goncalves ahead of him. The Colts could have addressed a more immediate need here — wide receivers such as Elijah Sarratt were still on the board — but they’re clearly betting on traits.
SEVENTH-BEST: Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon (Round 4, Pick 135)
Boettcher might be one of the most interesting players in this class.
A two-sport standout who was drafted by MLB’s Houston Astros, he chose football instead — and plays like someone who fully committed to that decision.
He’s aggressive, physical and relentless, even if his measurables don’t jump off the page.
“I love baseball, but football is definitely my passion,” Boettcher said.
He’ll likely carve out his role on special teams early, with the potential to develop into a rotational linebacker.
EIGHTH-BEST: Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky (Round 7, Pick 237)
McGowan’s journey to the NFL has been anything but straightforward.
After starting at Oklahoma, he bounced through junior college and New Mexico State before landing at Kentucky, where he ran for 725 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025.
At 6-foot-1, 223 pounds, he brings a physical running style to a running back room that boasts perhaps the league’s best in Jonathan Taylor.
For a late-round pick, McGowan offers solid depth and some upside if things break right.
Final take
For a team that didn’t make its first pick until No. 53, this is about as strong of an outcome as the Colts could have hoped for.
They filled key holes, found value throughout the draft, and added multiple players who could contribute sooner rather than later.
That’s a good way to turn a quiet Thursday night into a very productive weekend.
