Indianapolis Colts 2026 NFL Draft bold predictions: How early will Indy go wide receiver and gutshot on total trades

Whether that be in the second or third round will depend on how the board falls. The hit rate for finding starting receivers in that range has been fairly high in recent years. I also think there will be solid options on day two for the Colts to target to replace Michael Pittman Jr.’s spot in the starting lineup.

Will they send draft capital away for a proven veteran?

I think the Colts would prefer to land a starter at one of their defensive needs via trade. They’ve been linked to a few edge rushers rumored to be available via trade all offseason for a reason. And teams do tend to become more motivated to get a trade across the finish line during the draft.

Predicting a team to pull the trigger on trading away talented players, though, is very difficult. So many factors affect the situation, and more often than not, trades stall. So I’d say the odds aren’t great, but I’m in no way ruling it out. If one were to happen, I think edge rusher would be the most likely.

Will Ballard target a linebacker early or trust his past success and wait till day three?

Oh, good, another polarizing question that my answer will make a portion of the fan base angry, no matter what. Seriously, though, linebacker is going to be such an interesting position to watch in this draft for the Colts.

The team traded away captain and longtime starter Zaire Franklin this offseason. Their only notable addition to the room was signing Akeem Davis-Gaither in free agency. The Colts need another starter, but also could use two to three new players added to the room.

My hunch at linebacker right now is that there are probably a couple in this class the team would seriously consider in round two if they are on the board. In my opinion, it’s the deepest position in the class, though, and Ballard has had the most success in his career drafting linebackers and offensive linemen. So my official prediction is that the Colts don’t select a linebacker until day three of the draft.

Over/under 2.5 trades completed by the Colts?

Trades are usually seen as exciting by fans, but during the draft, they typically have a different connotation. Trading back is viewed as a passive approach that many fans despise. The reality of the Colts’ situation, though, is that they will need to trade back at least once near the top of their class.

They have seven picks in this draft, three of which come in the sixth and seventh rounds. Ballard himself told the world during his pre-draft presser the strength of this class comes in the third to fifth round.

I think we see the Colts trade down at least twice in this class. They also have two players who have asked to be traded this offseason in Anthony Richardson and Kenny Moore II. I believe that, in the end, we will see at least three completed trades by the Colts during the draft. So give me the over.

How many positions are on the table for the Colts’ first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft?

When the offseason began, most people thought it had to be a linebacker, no matter what, for the Colts in round two. As time has gone on, though, it seems more and more positions have joined the conversation.

I did a mock draft series last week that finished on Monday. That series showed what the Colts’ draft haul could look like if they used their second-round pick on an edge rusher, linebacker, wide receiver, or safety. That is the big four for me right now, where I think the team’s selection is the most likely to target.

I also wouldn’t be all that shocked if we saw corner or defensive tackle as the pick. Especially if the Colts trade back from 47 to add more capital. So, that brings my answer to include six positions. That may seem like a cop-out answer, but the Colts’ roster is so thin that they could go in a lot of different directions to start the 2026 NFL Draft.