Grading the Colts’ 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 selections: Indy lands competition for a starter on offense and an athletic pass rusher
Grading each selection made by the Indianapolis Colts during day three of the 2026 NFL Draft, following the team’s day two haul of linebacker CJ Allen and safety AJ Haulcy.
The Indianapolis Colts had a lot of pressure to ace the 2026 NFL Draft. They responded well on day two, landing immediate impact players by selecting Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen in the second and LSU safety AJ Haulcy in the third. Were they able to follow it up with a strong day three of the draft?
The team made six selections during day three, including two in the fourth round. Below are my thoughts on each pick the team made between rounds four and seven, including how I think the team grades out for making the selection.
Jalen Farmer in round 4 has the potential to be a massive steal
The Colts kicked off their day three haul by selecting Kentucky offensive guard Jalen Farmer. Farmer was a player who had a lot of fans during the draft cycle. Some highly respected people in the draft space even viewed him as a day two talent. Offensive line wasn’t seen as a need by some, but the team’s depth across the line is pretty rough at the moment.
Farmer began his career at Florida in 2022. He didn’t log a start during his two years with the Gators and transferred to Kentucky in 2024. There, he started all 24 of the team’s games over the past two years. He is a mauler in the run game and a better athlete than you’d think. Farmer will be the best depth offensive lineman on the Colts roster, and I wouldn’t be shocked if they have him and Matt Goncalves battle for the starting right guard job.
I think the Colts had a bigger need at center and tackle. But I think the value of landing a talent like Farmer outweighed those needs in this case.
Grade: B+
Colts reach on Bryce Boettcher in the 4th round
Up to this point, I’ve been a big fan of each selection made by the Colts. That stops with the team opting to use a fourth-round pick on Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher. Boettcher is a solid athlete, but is a bit small and lacks the length that you’d like to see at the position. He has shown some solid coverage ability, but his instincts in the run game are suspect.
I wasn’t against the Colts doubling up at linebacker, but taking him in the fourth over multiple players who could have competed for starting spots was bad business in my opinion. Some notable players taken after this pick by the Colts were: Bryce Lance, Kyle Louis, and LT Overton. I give this one a D, but I hope he proves me wrong.
Grade: D+
Colts bet on George Gumbs Jr.’s upside in the 5th round
Betting on high upside players who show elite athletic traits is a staple of any Chris Ballard-led draft. So seeing the team land one of the scouting combine’s standout performers shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone. That’s exactly what they did by landing Florida’s George Gumbs Jr.
Waiting till day three to address their need at edge rusher was pretty shocking. The team needs a starter opposite Laiatu Latu, and that won’t be Gumbs Jr. in 2026. He has a lot of potential and could even carve out a rotational role in 2026. But adding just another body to the edge of the room isn’t really addressing the underlying problem. Taking a shot on his upside in the fifth round isn’t a bad move by any means, though.
Grade: C
Colts bring Ohio State’s Caden Curry back home to Indiana in the sixth round
This is a homecoming for Caden Curry, who returns to his hometown of Indianapolis, joining the Colts. He waited his turn patiently after joining Ohio State, having a minimal role for his first three seasons. In 2025, he got his chance to start and made the most of the opportunity, finishing with a team-high 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss.
Curry doesn’t project to have a very high ceiling as a player, but does have upside to become a decent rotational piece. He plays with a lot of power, and he is at an insane motor. He offers some solid flexibility to move all over the line, which should help him carve out a role. Some had as high as a fourth-round grade on Curry, so landing him in the sixth is pretty solid value for Indy.
Grade: B
Colts land a potential backup for Jonathan Taylor in round 7 by selecting Kentucky running back Seth McGowan
The Colts have their starting running back in place with Jonathan Taylor. Behind him, though, there is an opening for someone to carve out a role. The team drafted DJ Giddens last year with the hope that he would take over that role. But his rookie season was spent watching from the sidelines, for a good portion of it as a healthy scratch.
Now the Colts add Seth McGowan to compete with Giddens. In reality, they will both likely be on the roster, with few options on the team at this time. McGowan runs hard without much power. His finding a role in the goal line could make sense. The trait I think will help him play early, though, is his blocking ability. This easily gets a B+ for me, fills a need, and is a player I thought would hear his name in the fifth or sixth round.
Grade: B+
Colts finish their class with dynamic playmaking wide receiver Deion Burks in the 7th round
The Colts had quite the surprise to end their class with the team selecting Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks with the 254th pick in the seventh round. Burks was viewed as a player who could be taken sometime between the third and fifth rounds. Him falling to the seventh is one of the biggest shocks of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Colts are going to benefit from this by landing the speester and adding him to their wide receiver room. Burks recorded 47 catches, four touchdowns, and 620 yards in his final collegiate season at Oklahoma. He has true track speed and should be a weapon as a gadget-type player. His small build at just under 5-10 and 180 lbs makes him a better fit in the slot, but he lined up outside a solid amount at Oklahoma. This pick gives the Colts another playmaker at wide receiver and was incredible value. So an A+ seems fitting.
Grade: A+
