Former Kentucky guard Jalen Farmer is the first Wildcat drafted

The pick isn’t flashy—it's foundational. When the Indianapolis Colts turned in the card for Jalen Farmer in the fourth round on Saturday as the No. 113 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, this wasn’t about chasing upside. This was about securing a player who’s already been through the kind of football that translates—the kind played every Saturday in the SEC with the Kentucky Wildcats football; more importantly, it was about trusting the tape.

The Production Behind the Profile

The farmer's 2025 season won’t jump off the stat sheet because offensive line play rarely does. But inside NFL draft rooms, this is exactly what they’re looking for:

• 12 starts, 800+ snaps at right guard
• Just 3 sacks allowed all season
• 0 quarterback hits surrendered
• Only 1 penalty across the entire year

That’s not flashy. That’s dependable. On a Kentucky team that finished 5–7 and struggled to find offensive rhythm, Farmer was one of the few constants. When protection broke down around him, he held his ground. When things got chaotic, his tape stayed controlled. That matters more than clean-system production.

Farmer wins with anchor and discipline.

He’s not a twitchy, highlight-reel interior lineman—he's a pocket stabilizer. His base stays wide, his hands stay active, and he forces defensive tackles to earn everything through contact. You don’t see many clean losses on his film — and at this level, that’s half the battle.

In pass protection, the numbers back it up:

• Minimal sacks allowed
• No direct hits on the quarterback
• Consistent ability to absorb interior rush

That's what translates in football.