Colts take another shot to find their quarterback of the future, but they do it in an unorthodox way in a new 2026 NFL mock draft
The Colts don’t let the fact that they don’t own a first-round pick stop them from drafting a potential QB of the future in a new 2026 NFL mock draft.
The Indianapolis Colts will be in a tough spot when the offseason arrives. They have no idea who their starting quarterback will be in 2026, and their lack of draft assets will limit their ability to address that problem in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The team traded two first-round picks to the New York Jets as part of their deal to acquire All-Pro corner Sauce Gardner. So their first selection in the 2026 and 2027 NFL Draft likely won’t occur until the second round.
A new mock draft from our staff here at A to Z Sports covered the first four rounds of the upcoming draft. There was no trade for the Colts to move up into the first round, but they did land an intriguing QB later than teams typically target potential franchise QBs. This player’s unique situation, though, could make him a steal and therefore help the Colts out of the mess they’ve put themselves in.
The Colts’ selections in this mock draft
- Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech (Round 2, pick 49)
- Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech (Round 3, pick 82)
- Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson (Round 4, pick 113)
Colts select Clemson QB Cade Klubnik in the fourth round of a new mock draft
The Colts didn’t let not having a first-round pick stop them from landing an intriguing rookie QB. In fact, in this mock, they waited all the way till the fourth round. In rounds two and three, they targeted a pair of Texas Tech Raiders in Romello Height and Jacob Rodriguez.
What a fall it’s been for Cade Klubnik, who at one point was in consideration to be the No. 1 pick. Now it would be a shock if he were a first-round pick at all. The Colts have one of the most puzzling QB situations in the NFL, though, and they could use any potential upside. So, if he falls all the way to round four, they should run the card in and hope they can develop him into a franchise QB.
A heavy RPO offense like Shane Steichen’s would help to simplify things for Klubnik. In my opinion, this would help address many of the issues evident in his 2025 season film.
It felt like the game moved too fast for Klubnik this year, but if an NFL coaching staff can help to slow it down for him, he has the talent of a first-rounder, no doubt. That alone could make him an option to start in week one of 2026, which the Colts could need with the futures of Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson being uncertain.
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