4 Colts winners and losers following the results of the 2026 NFL Draft: Former draft picks’ spots on the roster up in the air
The decisions and selections the Indianapolis Colts made during the 2026 NFL Draft are going to have a major effect on four players who leave the weekend as either winners or losers ahead of training camp.
The Indianapolis Colts made eight selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. Five selections on defense and three on offense. And the class will have a major impact on the team’s roster for the 2026 season.
The results of the class will affect four players more than the rest, though. Two as winners and two as losers, from whom the team elected to select in the draft.
Winner: Riley Leonard’s backup role seems safe
Anthony Richardson’s trade request has his future with the Colts in question. This made Riley Leonard the favorite to be Daniel Jones’ backup. If the Colts had selected a quarterback in the draft, that spot would have been turned into a competition.
They elected to pass on that possibility. And even with Richardson still on the roster today, Leonard seems to be the team’s expected backup. The fact that Jones could miss time early in the year also means he could be the team’s Week 1 starter.
Loser: Jaylon Carlies goes from a potential starter to a potential cut candidate
Jaylon Carlies had a massive opportunity in front of him last year, but injuries derailed him from taking advantage of it. Some were hoping he would get the same chance this year, but the draft shut the door on that.
The Colts drafted two linebackers in the top four rounds of the class. Both likely go into camp higher on the depth chart. Now, Carlies has a better chance of not making the roster than of landing a starting role.
Winner: Jaylahn Tuimoloau is going to get a real chance to start
Last year didn’t go as planned for the Colts’ 2025 second-round pick, Jaylahn Tuimoloau. He ended up being a healthy scratch a handful of times early in the season. Many, including myself, expected the Colts to come out of the draft or free agency with a new starter opposite Laiatu Latu.
That was not the case with free agency, focused on signing depth pieces like Arden Key and Michael Clemons. They didn’t select an edge rusher until the fifth round. That being a developmental piece, George Gumbs Jr. out of Florida. Tuimoloau will now compete to be a day-one starter in 2026.
Loser: Matt Goncalves is all of a sudden in a training camp battle to start at right guard
The Colts used their first pick of the fourth round on Kentucky guard Jalen Farmer. He was selected later than expected, with day-two draft grades. Farmer will now compete for the starting right guard job, along with the backup guard and tackle positions.
Before the draft, there weren’t many questions about the Colts’ starting offensive line. Now, with the addition of Famer, in my opinion, Goncalves has been put on notice. Competition should bring out the best of both players. But this isn’t the news Goncalves was hoping to see come out of the draft.
