Colts' Chris Ballard highlights strengths of 2026 NFL draft class

The good news for the Indianapolis Colts is that the strengths of this year's draft class seem to align with what the team's biggest needs are.

Linebacker, edge rusher, and wide receiver all need to be priorities for the Colts, and those positions also happen to be areas where GM Chris Ballard believes there is a good amount of depth in this year's NFL draft.

"I do think linebackers pretty good," Ballard said on the strength of the draft class. "I think edge is good. I think there's some pretty good wide outs in this draft, kind of at at every level."

From depth to comnpetition for playing time, you name it, and the Colts need it at the linebacker position. This is a very inexperienced unit overall.

At wide receiver, the WR3 role is up for grabs, with Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine competing for those snaps as of now.

Then at defensive end, while Ballard added to this unit in free agency, signing Micheal Clemons and Arden Key, more depth and competition are needed as the Colts' search for more pass rush juice. By Ballard's own admission, he and the team have been unable to find the "home run guy" in the draft at edge rusher.

Going beyond those obvious needs, Ballard also mentioned two other position groups that are strong in this year's draft.

"I think the interior of the O line, I think there's some pretty good depth, and then I think there's some depth at safety, too," Ballard added.

The Colts' starting offensive line configuration is already on the roster, but improving the depth behind that group should be on Ballard's radar, with there being a fair amount of inexperience.