Projecting roles for Colts' 8 draft picks during 2026 season

DE George Gumbs Jr.

Still relatively new to the position -- Gumbs' college career began as a wide receiver at Northern Illinois -- the Colts believe Gumbs has a solid foundation, but continued development is needed. He'll compete for rotational snaps, but could see most of his playing time come on special teams.

DE Caden Curry

Presumably, four spots in the defensive end rotation are already accounted for between Laiatu Latu, JT Tuimoloau, Arden Key, and Micheal Clemons. That leaves just a few snaps potentially up for grabs as the fifth member of the rotation, or it's possible the Colts will go with just four regular contributors at defensive end. Like Gumbs, Curry's impact as a rookie may be felt more so on special teams.

RB Seth McGowan

McGowan will compete with DJ Giddens for the backup running back role. Special teams contributions and ability to hold up in pass pro will be important factors in deciding this competition.

WR Deion Burks

Although a seventh-round pick, Burks could end up competing for meaningful snaps right away. With the WR3 role up for grabs, he, Ashton Dulin, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine should all be in the mix. Burks also provides another potential option in the return game.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Projecting roles and fit for Colts' 8 picks