Hey there Colts’ fans! Here are my thoughts on the Colts’ activities this month, mostly looking ahead to the annual player selection meeting (otherwise known as the NFL draft) on April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. I guess I should say on April 24-25, because unless something really unforeseen happens, the Colts will not be involved on Day One which is just the first round of the draft. There is a lot riding on what Chris Ballard and his team will do over those three days.

Before I get to that, let me recap what has been an otherwise quiet month in Indy. The only new signee they have made in the last month was a guy who had spent his entire career as a Charger, coming out of a multi-year retirement. No, QB Philip Rivers is not coming back….they have signed SS Nasir Adderley, a onetime 2^nd-round pick out of Delaware by the Chargers in 2019. After starting for three injury-plagued but promising seasons in (then) San Diego, he chose retirement in 2022 to "focus on his health." This week, the Colts took a flyer on the 28-year old as he unretired, hoping he can compete with two other free agent safety signings to fill the starting role vacated by free agency loss SS Nick Cross. It is nothing to bank on, and likely this is the most that will be written about his Colts career I would bet.

It is no secret that the Colts have a tremendous number of roster holes to fill – including several starting positions – and that they will have to do it without the benefit of a first-round pick in either of the next two drafts or a lot of accessible cap space. The holes on this roster would be difficult to address even with that mid-round pick in round 1 or some more salary freedom at its disposal, but without it, this team cold be looking ta a difficult season. All of this makes some of their decisions all the more puzzling, since they are banking on near -term success with some of their higher dollar moves. They can’t even afford a "red shirt" season and hope to gear up for 2027, because they will be missing a (potentially high) first rounder that year also. As a fan of the team, this has been a disappointing offseason, for sure.

The Colts have seven selections with one in each round from 2-6 and then a pair of picks in round 7. Most people agree that they need help in the middle of their defense with bot interior and exterior/edge linebacker being the top priority overall. Many people will look at them selecting a wide receiver due to the departure of WR Michael Pittman and the injury history of the remaining receivers, and that is probably a safe bet also. Luckily for them, this draft class is considered very deep at linebacker for impact players and reasonably deep at receiver even if the top end is not as strong as some classes. The offensive line depth was really smacked hard the last two seasons and some of the holdovers are getting long in the tooth, so I would be shocked if at least one draft pick and likely more aren’t used on the offensive line.

The one thing that is clear is that they need to get a starting linebacker out of this draft, so it would be the most likely thing that they would target that position with their first pick – a second round selection at #47 overall. More than a few have the Colts targeting Texas LB Anthony Hill due to his ability to play linebacker and provide some edge rushing. He projects as a late first rounder or an early second rounder, so he may or may not be available without a trade up (something the Colts might not be able to do). Georgia’s LB CJ Allen projects into the range where the Colts draft, and he also is a good fit for what they need and could contribute right away. He reminds some of Roquan Smith, and they need some of that in their revamped linebacker room. If one or both of these guys is there at #47, I would be mildly surprised if one is not the choice.

I have seen a few media pundits look at Pittsburgh’s LB Kyle Louis as a guy with Pro-Bowl potential that can be drafted on Day Two (he is a bit undersized), and he has been compared to a player like Derrick Brooks stylistically, making him a great fit for our needs as well as a guy that could outperform his draft position. He is projected to be ready to start immediately in the NFL, which is what they need. I would not be surprised to see one of these three on the team as Day Two comes to a close. He might be a better target in round 3 if he slips to there, and surely would be a target if the Colts eschew a linebacker in round 2. Missouri LB Josiah Trotter also is a sure tackler and an instinctive downhill player, and could be another good fit in round 2-3. I am intrigued by Alabama’s LB Deontae Lawson as steady pick with upside late on Day Two or early on Day Three if they miss out on the other guys listed.

On the edge, the Colts have been outstandingly bad in drafting pass rushers with no real successes since the unorthodox but brilliant selections of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis in 2002-03. With 6-8 edge rushers expected to be drafted before the Colts are on the clock, it would be hard to project them taking one before round three – at which point you are looking for an inexplicable drop, or a guy with upside that merits a later round pick. Coming off a down year, Clemson’s TJ Parker could be a guy that slips to them and could set the defensive edge while rushing; he may be worth a pick at #47, but I would like his value better in round 3 after grabbing a starting linebacker already. I also like a guy like Michigan’s Derrick Moore in round 3. He is a winner and an effective player, leading Michigan in sacks last season. Central Florida’s Malachi Lawrence could slip due to his team’s mediocre season, but his explosiveness and motor makes up for his pedigree for sure. I suspect that they would like to have an eventual replacement for the two interior veterans on the defensive line, but the free agent signings and rotational players they already have should be good enough to allow them to wait on that use of draft capital in this year’s draft.

On the O-line, if a guy like OL Keylan Rutledge of Georgia Tech falls to them in round two, he might trump their need at linebacker. Numerous mock drafts have him going to the Colts there, and it could be a decent pick actually for his versatility across the interior of the offensive line. He has a little to learn in pass blocking, but this team likely will be a running team for the near term so his best traits can serve us now. Many say he has a high floor and a high ceiling at a position of need for the Colts now and later. If the two starting caliber linebackers are gone at #47 but Rutledge is there, I think he will be the pick due to the depth at linebacker present in this draft. Failing that, they need to look at increasing depth and lining up some future starters, especially on the interior of the line. Basing a team on rushing with ball with RB Jonathan Taylor means that there better be depth and talent up front – and then you have to talk about protecting a quarterback coming off a serious injury as well. I would be shocked if two of the team’s seven picks are not used on the O-line this year.

Finally, I do believe they will come out of this draft with at least one new receiver, although I would be a little surprised if it is before round 4 due to the needs for more immediate impact players at other positions. If they are looking for someone to play a role in 2026, they would likely be targeting a stylistic replacement for Pittman’s steady possession role rather than speed or slot guys. Alabama’s WR Germie Bernard and Notre Dame’s WR Malachi Fields are that sort of guy from among the higher pedigree players, but they would only represent real draft value in round 3 or later. I kind of like Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt as a guy to target in round 3 or later. Besides being a local hero in last year’s title run, he has three years of solid production – and yet has flown under the radar despite leading FBS in receiving TDs in 2025, mostly due to being less flashy than teammate Omar Cooper. He could be a real steal on draft day for someone, hopefully the Colts.

Barring someone falling way too far, I can’t see the Colts worrying too much about their defensive secondary in this draft. Anyone they select would be for depth and special teams, and perhaps could best be served by free agency and undrafted rookies. They simply have too much tied up in their starters there to spend their precious and scarce draft capital there. I would say the same about all the skill positions on offense other than receiver also.

There you have my thoughts on the draft next week. If the Colts come out of day two of the draft with an immediate starting linebacker and a potential starter at edge/o-line/receiver, I will call it a win. If they manage to get all four of those in their first four picks, it will be a tremendous draft from behind a seriously large 8-ball. Time will tell…

That is all for this month from the Crossroads of America. Until next month when I will critique what Ballard has done…..be well friends!

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