It’s hard to look at the Indianapolis Colts full offseason to date and not think they’ve gotten worse overall.

The team pulled off their top two priorities of the offseason by retaining wide receiver Alec Pierce and quarterback Daniel Jones. They’ve had some significant departures, though, trading away wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and linebacker Zaire Franklin, as well as seeing multiple starters, edge rusher Kwity Paye and right tackle Braden Smith, leave in free agency.

Therefore, the team has a lot of work left to do, and it’s going to be pivotal that their haul in the 2026 NFL Draft is a win. A new mock draft from A to Z Sports has the Colts giving their front seven a needed makeover, adding two dynamic talents who would help the team’s defense do exactly what general manager Chris Ballard said they would do by getting “younger and faster.”

Colts select Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. in the second round of a new mock draft

“The Colts have one of the worst linebacker rooms in the NFL right now after trading away former All-Pro Zaire Franklin. They want to be younger and faster on defense, specifically in the linebacker room. Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. would do just that and could be the green dot for Lou Anarumo’s defense early in his career.” – New A to Z Sports 3-round mock draft

The Colts linebacker room needed a makeover this offseason to better fit defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme. They need more speed and versatility out of the position; they’ve already gotten that ball rolling a bit by signing Anarumo’s former player, Akeem Davis-Gaither, who played for him with the Cincinnati Bengals.

I don’t think that signing will prevent the Colts from still looking at linebackers early in the upcoming draft, though, especially with how strong this linebacker class is. On paper, Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr. seems like one of the best fits for their defense in this class, and his expected draft range has him in striking distance for the Colts in the second round.

Hill Jr. wore a lot of hats for the Longhorns last year, showing off skills as a pass rusher, coverage specialist, and run stopper. I think he would be a day-one starter and has the potential to be a green dot in the NFL early in his career. The Colts defense needs to add young talent like the former five-star high school recruit Hill Jr., and if he’s on the board in round two, I think he should be considered a top candidate to be the team’s selection.

ANTHONY HILL JR INTERCEPTION

Just one of MANY amazing linebackers in the 2026 Draft… pic.twitter.com/jMEzw4NWDC

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) November 16, 2025

Colts select Michigan linebacker and edge rusher hybrid Jaishawn Barham in the third round of a new mock draft

In round three of this A to Z Sports three-round mock draft, the Colts select one of the most intriguing players in this year’s draft class: Michigan Wolverine linebacker/edge rusher Jaishawn Barham. The first big question teams will have to figure out when it comes to Barham is what position they will use him at, off-ball linebacker or on the defensive line as an edge rusher.

Barham spent time at two different Big 10 schools, beginning his career at Maryland for his first two seasons before transferring to Michigan ahead of the 2024 season. He spent most of his first three years in college as an off-ball linebacker, but his ability as a pass rusher flashed on film. During his first year at Michigan, he logged only 76 snaps on the defensive line and 500 at linebacker; that changed dramatically last season. In 2025, 304 of Barham’s 397 total snaps came on the defensive line.

He reminds me a bit of a player who had a similar role in college, Jalon Walker, who was drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. During his rookie year with the Atlanta Falcons, he had 5.5 sacks in only nine starts. He is likely to have an elevated role in 2026 and has a lot of upside to become a double-digit sack player, in my opinion.

I think Barham will take some time to become a full time starter in the NFL which would mean the Colts would need to find a starter oppositie Laiatu Latu elsewhere, likely via trade. Barham would give the Colts a pass rusher with sky-high potential as a speed rusher to develop. They haven’t had a lot of success with developmental edge rushers during Chris Ballard’s tenure, but with that room as bare as it is of starting-level talent, I don’t think they can afford to throw away shots.