Colts’ 2026 NFL Draft Grades For Every Pick

The 2026 NFL Draft was never going to be the Indianapolis Colts’ main avenue to building out their roster. After all, the team traded first-round capital away for Sauce Gardner last season. Things went south for Indianapolis after that trade, but they had looked like legitimate contenders earlier in the year. Even with limited draft capital, the Colts needed to nail the draft in order to get back on track. Did they do just that? Here are draft grades for each of the Colts’ selections.

Round 2, Pick 53: LB CJ Allen, Georgia

Grade: A

The Colts were without a first-round pick, so they needed to nail their second-round selection. The indeed hit the mark by taking CJ Allen, a linebacker from Georgia who will take over for the recently traded Zaire Franklin. A lot of tackles will be up for grabs without Franklin in the lineup, and Allen is a force in the running game. Coming from a great defensive program like Georgia’s, Allen could be the leader of the Colts’ defense right away.

Round 3, Pick 78: S A.J. Haulcy, LSU

Grade: A-

Another area of need after another offseason departure was the strong safety position. A.J. Haulcy was drafted to replace Nick Cross. The LSU safety had eight interceptions over the last two seasons. He can be a ballhawk deep down the field but can also step up into the box and sniff out the run.

Round 4, Pick 113: OG Jalen Farmer, Kentucky

Grade: B-

The Colts already have a solid offensive line that opens up running lanes for Jonathan Taylor and helps keep Daniel Jones upright. Depth is of the utmost importance, though, so the team added interior offensive line insurance in the fourth round when they took Jalen Farmer. Farmer never allows pressures, and he will give push for Matt Goncalves’ job.

Round 4, Pick 135: LB Bryce Boettcher, Oregon

Grade: A

Bryce Boettcher was a great value get with pick 135. He ranked sixth in the nation with 136 tackles last season, so the Colts can breathe a sigh of relief with regards to replacing Franklin. Boettcher is also solid on coverage and can operate on special teams, too. The Colts were smart to double-dip at linebacker, and they got two players who match each other’s skill sets perfectly.

Round 5, Pick 156: DE George Gumbs Jr., Florida

Grade: C+

It would have been nice to see the Colts add a pass rusher earlier in the draft, but they didn’t like the players available to them until pick 156. George Gumbs might not contribute right away, though. He is a converted receiver who is still developing. Gumbs does have some serious potential if his understanding of how to operate on the defensive side of the ball improves.

Round 6, Pick 214: DE Caden Curry, Ohio State

Grade: B+

To make up for Gumbs’ rawness, the Colts added a proven and productive defensive end in Caden Curry. He is coming off an 11-sack, 16.5-tackle-for-loss season with Ohio State. While Curry’s ceiling isn’t the highest, largely because of his arm length issue, he is someone who can come in and make an impact right away.

Round 7, Pick 237: RB Seth McGowan, Kentucky

Grade: A-

There aren’t many carries to be had in an offense that includes Taylor, but depth at the running back position was a sneaky need for the Colts. Therefore, it made sense to avoid the position earlier in the draft and instead target a ball carrier in the seventh round. Seth McGowan has been all over the country, but he has produced everywhere that he has played at. This past season, he found a way to punch the ball into the end zone with more frequency. In Indianapolis, he will get to run behind one of his Kentucky teammates who he found so much success with.

Round 7, Pick 254: WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma

Grade: A

Deion Burks was one of the standouts of the NFL Scouting Combine. He finished in the top six among all position groups in the 40-yard dash, the 10-yard split, and the vertical jump. Getting such a talented athlete this late in the draft was a huge steal for the Colts. Burks will really help open up the offense as a deep threat for a team that already has Alec Pierce, one of the league’s best burners. The Colts’ offense was great at the start of the season, and it has sky-high potential going forward.

Colts’ overall draft grade

Grade: B

Despite not having a first-round pick, the Colts made the most of the 2026 NFL Draft. They addressed some of their biggest needs and found hidden gems in the later rounds.

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