Colts draft pick profiles: Everything to know about S AJ Haulcy

With the 78th overall selection in the 2026 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected LSU safety AJ Haulcy.

Here is everything you need to know.

Profile

Height: 5-116
Weight: 215
Age: 22

AJ Haulcy's LSU bio

Breakdown

Haulcy is an experienced defender, playing 2,823 career snaps, spending regular time at both free safety and in the box. He's been a sound run defender by PFF's metrics and has had very good ball production in coverage, logging eight interceptions and 10 pass breakups the last two seasons.

At each of Haulcy's stops in his college career, he found success. At New Mexico in 2022, Haulcy played in 12 games and made nine starts. In 2023 at Houston, he led the team in tackles. The following season, Haulcy was an All Big-12 selection. Then in 2025, he was a first-team All-SEC defender at LSU.

What draft experts had to say

"Haulcy, aka Mr. Give Me That, is a throwback safety with a compact, densely muscled frame and a pro feel for reading the field. He’s a rare blend of ballhawk and enforcer who can scurry into passing lanes for takeaways or run through a receiver to break up a pass. His pattern recognition and instincts are top-notch and he’s decisive in his reactions. A lack of sustained top-end speed could create mismatches in man coverage. He’s more effective playing forward than he is at guarding large spaces in deeper coverages. He’s rock-steady as a finisher but sees the missed tackle total tick higher as an open-field tackler. Haulcy’s frame and game are pro-ready, though. He projects as a good NFL starter in a zone-heavy scheme." - Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

AJ Haulcy's athletic profile

They said it

GM Chris Ballard: "He's an interesting guy, and what I love the most is, especially in the transfer world, but goes to New Mexico, starts, goes to Houston, starts, goes to LSU, starts. Takes the ball away. He's physical. He's going to be a good addition. We think we got younger and faster on defense."

Colts' scout Mike Lacy: "So, he's strong, right? He's got a compact, muscular build, but I wouldn't say -- don't let that fool you because he's got a natural feel for coverage, too. And he's quick. He can change direction. Ran very well at the combine, so we feel good about his long speed and range in the passing game, and again, I mean, he's not scared to get his nose dirty in the run game, and he's got ball production on paper that tells you he can take it away."

AJ Haulcy's fit with the Colts

Haulcy will compete for playing time next to Cam Bynum with Jonathan Owens, Hunter Wohler, and Juanyeh Thomas. The Colts do not view him as just a box defender but as someone who can play deep as well, adding versatility to Lou Anarumo's defense -- a coveted trait in this scheme. Haulcy also brings a strong coverage presence and ballhawking skills to the secondary.