The Indianapolis Colts announced on March 16 that several key players, including Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, will return for the 2026 season. The team also signed defensive ends Arden Key and Micheal Clemons, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, and acquired Colby Wooden in a trade with the Green Bay Packers. Tight end Drew Ogletree is also back with the roster.
These moves come as the Colts continue to shape their lineup ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft. While more free agent activity is expected, the pace of signings is likely to slow in the coming weeks. This has led NFL Draft experts to update their projections for how the Colts might approach next month’s draft.
Recent mock drafts from various analysts offer different perspectives on potential picks for the Colts. Josh Edwards from CBS Sports predicts Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. at No. 47 overall and Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. at No. 78 overall. Luke Easterling of Athlon Sports suggests Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and Texas A&M tackle Dametrious Crownover for those same selections.
Other experts have highlighted prospects such as Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard, Tennessee defensive end Joshua Josephs, Oklahoma defensive end R Mason Thomas, Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis, Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday, Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst, UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence, Illinois defensive end Gabe Jacas, Alabama defensive end LT Overton, Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter, Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks, Miami defensive end Ahkeem Mesidor, and Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.
The ongoing analysis reflects uncertainty about which direction the Colts will take in the draft following their recent roster changes. As free agency continues and draft day approaches, observers expect further updates to expert predictions.
