The Indianapolis Colts certainly draft some positions far more often than others, and they do it early.
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard begins his 10th draft leading the team on Thursday night.
He's had some successful swings and some bad misses, but, moreover, Colts fans mostly know what to expect at this point.
With the data of 82 draft selections over the last nine years, in the 2026 Indy Draft Guide, Zach Hicks ran the numbers to find out at what point in the draft Ballard most commonly selects certain positions and how often.
Below is the order of the Colts' most frequently drafted positions over the last nine years, and on average, when they've been taken.
EDGE DEFENDER
Total Drafted: 10
Average Pick: 79
When the Colts take an edge defender, it's usually by the end of Day 2. Gerri Green (sixth round in 2019) and Titus Leo (sixth round in 2023) are the only exceptions. Otherwise, we've seen Ballard take Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu in the first round, Kemoko Turay, Tyquan Lewis, Ben Banogu, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Jaylahn Tuimoloau in the second round, and Tarell Basham in the third.
With edge being one of their couple of biggest needs this weekend, the outside expectation is that we see the Colts take another one on Day 2.
WIDE RECEIVER
Total Drafted: 10
Average Pick: 120
We've seen the Colts go all over the place looking for receivers, but they show conviction when they really need one, with Parris Campbell, Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, and AD Mitchell all going on Day 2. The Colts will draft a receiver anywhere, though, as there are several late-round picks as well.
CORNERBACK
Total Drafted: 10
Average Pick: 127
Corner is very similar to receiver for the Colts: they'll go take one right away when they need it, but otherwise, they feed the group most years with at least a late-round pick. Quincy Wilson, Rock Ya-Sin, and JuJu Brents were all taken in the second round, but oddly enough, Ballard has not taken one in the first round despite cornerback being tied for the Colts' most commonly-drafted position.
SAFETY
Total Drafted: 9
Average Pick: 140
Ballard has drafted a lot of safeties, but Malik Hooker (first round in 2017) was the only one taken before the third round, and that's because he was considered one of that year's elite players, who just fell in their lap.
LINEBACKER
Total Drafted: 8
Average Pick: 158
This is Ballard's most reputable position because he's found startable players later in the draft.
Anthony Walker Jr., Zaire Franklin, E.J. Speed, and Jaylon Carlies were all Day 3 picks who went on to start for the Colts, and even Shaquille Leonard and Bobby Okereke weren't taken in the first round.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Total Drafted: 7
Average Pick: 137
The benefit of the Colts having above-average developers coaching the offensive line is that they can select players anywhere. The Colts found their franchise left tackle, Bernhard Raimann, in the third round in 2022, and Blake Freeland (fourth round in 2023), Matt Goncalves (third round in 2024), and Jalen Travis (fourth round in 2025) all won the swing tackle role as rookies.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Total Drafted: 7
Average Pick: 178
If you take away finding longtime starting nose tackle Grover Stewart in the fourth round in 2017, the Colts haven't had good fortune at drafting defensive tackles, but they also don't invest premium capital there either. The Colts took Robert Windsor in the sixth round in 2020, Eric Johnson II in the fifth round in 2022, Curtis Brooks in the sixth in 2022, Adetomiwa Adebawore in the fourth round in 2023, Jonah Laulu in the seventh in 2024, and Tim Smith in the sixth in 2025. Never has Ballard taken a defensive tackle in the first three rounds.
RUNNING BACK
Total Drafted: 6
Average Pick: 130
With the exception of trading up for Jonathan Taylor in the second round of 2020, the Colts have relied on the mid to late rounds to address running back. Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines were both fourth-round picks, and Jonathan Wilkins, Evan Hull, and DJ Giddens all came in the fifth.
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
Total Drafted: 6
Average Pick: 140
This is a position group with great flexibility for the Colts, because players such as Braden Smith, Danny Pinter, Will Fries, and Matt Goncalves were all technically tackles coming into the league. Still, the Colts have only invested an early-round pick in one player they intended to play inside: Quenton Nelson with the sixth-overall pick in 2018.
TIGHT END
Total Drafted: 5
Average Pick: 113
The Colts' selections of tight ends have been spread out. Tyler Warren was their first-round pick in 2025, but Jelani Woods went in the third, Kylen Granson went in the fourth, Will Mallory went in the fifth, and Drew Ogletree was a sixth.
QUARTERBACK
Total Drafted: 4
Average Pick: 133
The Colts aren't one of those teams that hide their feelings about quarterbacks: they're either going to take a potential starter early or wait until near the end to take a developmental player. Anthony Roichardson Sr. (first round in 2023) is the only first-rounder, whereas Sam Ehlinger and Riley Leonard both went in the sixth round. An exception is that the Colts did use a fourth-round pick on Jacob Eason in 2020.