Colts Draft Plan: Younger, better, faster, stronger

Q: Who did the Colts select in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Colts selected linebacker CJ Allen, safety AJ Haulcy, and guard Jalen Farmer in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Q: What was the Colts' strategy during the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Colts aimed to trade back to gain extra draft capital while still securing key players like CJ Allen.

Q: How did CJ Allen perform in college before being drafted?

CJ Allen had an impressive college career, recording 88 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles during his All-American campaign.

Q: What impact is AJ Haulcy expected to have on the Colts' defense?

AJ Haulcy is expected to compete for a starting safety position and make an immediate impact with his ability to diagnose plays and create turnovers.

Apr 22, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A general overall view of large Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts helmet at the 2026 NFL Draft Experience at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Work it, make it Do it, makes us (Younger), better, Faster, Stronger. Inside the Indianapolis Colts’ draft room, the vision for 2026 repeated like the mantra of a timeless song that makes you want to keep up with the beat. The franchise entered draft week looking to revamp after five veteran leaders were gone, then later lost a sixth defensive starter once cornerback Kenny Moore II was released on his own accord. General manager Chris Ballard knew standing still would keep Indianapolis exactly where it had been, stuck with a mid team that just couldn’t get over the hump and reach the playoffs. In three years under head Coach Shane Steichen, the Colts are 25-26 in 51 games. That sense of urgency echoed through every scouting debate and film session at Colts headquarters in the months leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft. When Georgia linebacker CJ Allen walked into the Circle City carrying the exact traits Indianapolis desperately wanted, he sprung to the top of their draft board. The Colts YouTube video shows the coaches showed him film against Tennessee and Allen answered every question without hesitation, identifying split zone and counter run plays from memory before breaking down his responsibilities. To the Colts, Allen wasn’t just another linebacker prospect. The documentary reveals the draft process on Day 2 was centered on gaining another pick. Move back and risk losing Allen, or stay put and secure the player? It truly looked polished in the war room, until the tension intensified once Ballard implemented his own organized chaos and traded back in real time. Sitting at pick No. 47 in the second round, Indianapolis had Allen at the top of its board, but Ballard believed he could still get his linebacker while gaining extra draft capital. The room hesitated as trade conversations unfolded with the . Ultimately, in classic Ballard fashion, the Colts were willing to gamble and trusted their board to trade back six spots to No. 53. The Colts believed they had landed the centerpiece of their defensive rebuild in Allen, a linebacker already accustomed to operating Georgia’s complex system while wearing the communication headset. The green dot can communicate with the coaching staff with a headset in their helmet, just like the quarterback. Allen collected 88 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles during his 2025 All-American campaign for the back-to-back SEC champion Bulldogs. Despite trading the No. 47 overall pick to the Steelers, the Colts also picked up a fourth round pick (No. 135) and essentially dumped one of their last compensatory picks (No. 249) – which the Steelers traded away anyway – for a higher seventh round pick (No. 237) in the process. We’ll see how receiver Germaine Bernard (pick No. 47) fares in Pittsburgh, but Allen (No. 53) should be a green dot leader from Day 1 and command Indy’s defense for at least the next four years. When LSU safety AJ Haulcy was available at pick No. 78, the Colts seemingly wasted no time deliberating. Haulcy has 10 career interceptions that instantly jump off the screen when watching his film. Nicknamed Mr. GiveMeThat, Haulcy has a prime opportunity to seize the (open) starting spot at strong safety. After signed to the , there became a vacancy left for the Colts to fill before the season begins. Haulcy played for three different programs in four years, starting at New Mexico before transferring to Houston, then finally finishing his collegiate career at LSU. Quite the improvement, while earning all-conference honors at each program along the way. He grabbed three interceptions and added four passes defensed in his first-team All-SEC campaign in 2025. “This guy right here is a straight-up tone setter,” Ballard said during one scouting session. “This guy can take the ball away.” There is a solid chance Haulcy seized most of the reps in OTA’s in preparation to develop another rookie starter on the defensive side of the ball. His verbiage on different schemes and coverages fits right in line with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who loves to mix it up and disguise coverages. If Haulcy can diagnose opposing plays pre-snap, he can make an instant impact on the field. The Colts first pick on Day 3 was selecting guard Jalen Farmer, a 6-foot-5, 312-pound mauler that evaluators believed might be the most physically powerful player in the entire draft. Farmer was a two-year starter at Kentucky after transferring from Florida and played all 1,637 snaps at right guard across four seasons, according to PFF. His run blocking was more praised than his pass blocking, but showed good core strength when he gets leverage. He’s able to stay low and keep driving opposing SEC linemen back four-five yards behind the line of scrimmage. The splashes are there, but it is the consistent impact on each play that Farmer admitted he must work on. Offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. loved his film, his power, and his mentality. When Farmer unexpectedly slid into Indianapolis’ range in the fourth round, the room could barely believe it. “Draft him and I’ll make it work,” Sparano said earlier in the process. It should be mentioned that six-time All-Pro left guard is on the final year of his contract and right guard is a former tackle, who just moved inside to start last season. Goncalves is only 25 himself, but did allow 10 hits, which was tied for the fifth-most in the league according to Pro Football Focus. Needless to say, the Colts added some competition inside and made a precarious move to draft Farmer, who Ballard admitted was higher on their draft board ahead of Day 3. Indianapolis used the fourth round pick gained from Pittsburgh to select Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher. The First-Team All-American led the Big Ten with 136 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss in 2025. The Colts lost linebackers and , which further depleted the once veteran unit. More likely a special teams fit early on, Boettcher could have a chance to earn the starting spot at Will linebacker alongside Allen. Even without a first-round pick since the trade for star cornerback , Indianapolis believed it could reshape the identity of the roster on Day 2. The first pick felt heavier than the last as defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo later admitted he was “holding his breath” for a few picks while Allen was still available. By the end of Day 2, the Colts felt they had accomplished exactly what they set out to do, adding youthful speed and aggression into a defense that desperately needed to fill empty voids. Work it, harder. Make it, better. Do it, faster. Makes us, stronger.