🏈 Colts NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Expert Mock Draft Picks, Team Needs, Best Fits & 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 tonight 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 |
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📝 Colts mock draft consensus picks
I went through the final mock drafts from 10 top experts across the industry and gathered their NFL mock draft consensus picks for the Indianapolis Colts' first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's who they expect Indianapolis to draft:
| Expert | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas (No. 47) |
| Peter Schrager (ESPN) | No projected pick in Round 1 |
| Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) | No projected pick in Round 1 |
| Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) | No projected pick in Round 1 |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | No projected pick in Round 1 |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | No projected pick in Round 1 |
| Mike Renner (CBS Sports) | No projected pick in Round 1 |
| Tice & McDonald (Yahoo) | No projected pick in Round 1 |
| Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) | No projected pick in Round 1 |
| Rob Paul (Sportsbook Review) | De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss (No. 47) |
🎯 Colts first position drafted
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The Colts don't have a first-round pick after it was traded to the Jets, so their first selection comes at No. 47 in Round 2. Indianapolis traded Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason and could use another pass-catcher, though edge rusher and linebacker are also on the radar. Those two positions are trading virtually dead-even entering Round 1.
I broke down the latest NFL draft position odds for all 32 teams ahead of the first round.
🔮 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: De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
- Pro comparison: Romeo Doubs
- Measurables: 6'2" | 207 lbs | 23 years old | RAS: 9.90
Between trading Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers and Alec Pierce being sidelined with an ankle injury for the next few months, Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard may want to snag a pass catcher early in this deep wide receiver class. De'Zhaun Stribling was the most underrated receiver in the class, but it seems increasingly likely he'll go top 50. Stribling can win vertically with his 4.36 speed, and he has some of the best hands in the class (1.8% drop rate).
🏈 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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