Colts' Draft Described As 'Efficient'

The Indianapolis Colts entered last week's 2026 NFL Draft with a handful of important needs and limited resources to address them.

The Colts had seven selections heading into the draft, but none of them in the first round after trading their 2026 and 2027 first-rounders to the New York Jets last year in exchange for cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Kristophet Knox of Bleacher Report examined each team's draft haul and described each with one word. For the Colts, Knox landed on "efficient."

"The Indianapolis Colts didn't have a first-round pick because it was sent to the New York Jets as part of the Sauce Gardner trade," Knox pointed out. "However, the Colts still managed to overhaul a defense that ranked just 23rd overall in 2025.

"Georgia's CJ Allen and Oregon's Bryce Boettcher have the tools and traits needed to totally redefine Indianapolis' linebacking corps. Both are athletic, productive defenders who should hit the playing field sooner rather than later."

"LSU safety A.J. Haulcy, meanwhile, is a tone-setting box safety who will add some grit to the Colts' defense, alongside Allen and Boettcher," Knox wrote. "There's a real chance that all three will be starting by the end of the season, and when a team can add three rookie starters without a first-round selection, that's efficiency.

Linebacker was one of the more barren position groups on the Colts' roster, with Akeem Davis-Gaither, Austin Ajiake, and Jaylon Carlies acting as the top three.

The Colts started the draft with a bang by picking CJ Allen out of Georgia at 53, not only addressing the linebacker position, but filling the critical hole at MIKE left behind with the Zaire Franklin trade.

Allen is already held in high regard by the Colts, lauded for his leadership and mental aptitude, while also checking off necessary athletic boxes.

Allen was often mocked within the top 50 selections, but the Colts were able to trade down from 47 to 53, add a fourth-round pick, and still get Allen.

The Colts addressed linebacker again with Oregon's Bryce Boettcher in the fourth round. He immediately holds special teams value, but his skill set could fit perfectly with what the Colts need at WILL linebacker, giving Allen a running mate for the long term if he can topple Davis-Gaither for the role this summer.

LSU safety A.J. Haulcy was another player of great value. Often considered the fourth or fifth best safety in the draft, and a likely top-75 pick, the Colts were able to get another likely defensive starter at 78. The Colts have been addressing the safety position repeatedly throughout the offseason, but Haulcy is the most serious move they've made there since adding Cam Bynum last year.

Speaking of efficiency, the Colts used their extra fourth-round pick to select Kentucky offensive lineman Jalen Farmer. His presence alone could fill multiple needs for the Colts. If he wins the third guard spot, it could kick Dalton Tucker inside to be the new backup center, which the Colts need. If Farmer wins the right guard job outright, it could send either of Matt Goncalves or Jalen Travis back to swing tackle, which would be a better situation there than they currently have. Farmer himself could also factor into the swing tackle spot.

The Colts needed edge help coming into the draft, and after passing it up in the first four rounds, they double-dipped in the fifth and sixth rounds, picking George Gumbs Jr. and Caden Curry, respectively. The Colts took complementary players here, as Gumbs is more of an athletic speed rusher, whereas Curry is more of a strong side edge setter.

There was very little uniformity in expert running back rankings, but Kentucky's Seth McGowan was viewed as a good value pick for the Colts as well. The hard-nosed runner who catches the ball well could push DJ Giddens for the RB2 role behind Jonathan Taylor.

Arguably the steal of the class was Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks, who the Colts found in the seventh round. Burks was initially thought to be a top-100 pick, but the 5'8", 180-pound receiver nearly slid out of the draft. The Colts love his playmaking ability and play strength. They expect him to contribute to the wide receiver rotation and may also get him involved in the return game.