🏈 Colts NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
Without a first-round pick after the Sauce Gardner trade with the Jets, the Indianapolis Colts enter draft week picking at No. 47 in Round 2 and needing to maximize limited capital around a roster that went 8-9 and still has significant holes on both sides of the ball.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Colts' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player Indianapolis will draft with their first pick ahead of the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Colts draft picks 2026
See where the Colts rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
| 1 | No pick (traded to NYJ in Sauce Gardner deal) |
| 2 | No. 47 |
| 3 | No. 78 |
| 4 | No. 113 |
| 5 | No. 156 |
| 6 | No. 196, 214 |
| 7 | No. 249 |
🆘 Colts team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: EDGE, LB, S, OL, WR
- Key additions: Cam Taylor-Britt (CB), Arden Key (EDGE), Colby Wooden (DT, via trade), Micheal Clemons (EDGE)
- Key departures: Michael Pittman Jr. (WR, Steelers via trade), Kwity Paye (EDGE, Raiders), Samson Ebukam (EDGE, Falcons), Braden Smith (OT, Texans), Zaire Franklin (LB, Packers via trade)
Indianapolis lost significant pieces across the roster this offseason, headlined by the Pittman trade to Pittsburgh and the departures of Paye and Ebukam, which gutted a pass rush that already struggled to generate consistent pressure opposite Laiatu Latu. The linebacker corps needs a playmaker after trading Franklin to Green Bay, and the safety position could use a long-term answer.
🏈 Colts draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Colts' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick:
| Pick type | No. 47 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech | 7.0 | The Colts have a gaping hole at off-ball linebacker, and adding a fluid athlete like Rodriguez to Lou Anarumo's defense would be a home run - Rodriguez is a ball magnet (seven forced fumbles, four interceptions in 2025) |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama | 7.05 | With Michael Pittman Jr. gone, Indianapolis could look to add one of the safest bets at wide receiver in the draft with Bernard, who would start at Z immediately with his well-rounded skill set |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati | 6.95 | If the Colts want a high ceiling off-ball linebacker, Golday makes plenty of sense, with his size and explosiveness standing out as a former edge rusher at Central Arkansas turned overhang player for Cincinnati |
More scouting reports & player profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
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➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Colts mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Colts' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Because Indianapolis does not have a first-round pick, these projections come from the four expert mocks that extend into Round 2:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Mississippi |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati |
Linebacker is the clear target for Indianapolis in Round 2, with three of the four mocks we surveyed projecting the Colts to address the position - Cincinnati's Jake Golday appears twice in those mocks, while ESPN's Mel Kiper has Texas' Anthony Hill Jr. falling to No. 47. Chad Reuter of NFL.com is the lone draftnik going offense with Ole Miss receiver De'Zhaun Stribling as a potential Pittman replacement.
🔮 Colts draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 47: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
- Pro comparison: Matt Milano
- Measurables: 6'1" | 231 lbs | 23 years old | RAS: 9.61
Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard could look at wide receiver here, but they have a bigger hole at linebacker. The Colts badly need a playmaker at the position, and that's exactly what Jacob Rodriguez was as the leader of a dominant Texas Tech defense. Rodriguez's range, IQ, and energy helped him win pretty much every defensive award in college football last season because he was a ball magnet. The former QB forced seven fumbles and picked off four passes in 2025.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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