Colts 2026 NFL 5-round mock draft, as the team’s recent collapse shows it’s time to move on from multiple veteran players
A new 2026 Colts mock draft as the team is nearing missing the playoffs after trading away their next two first-round picks.
The Indianapolis Colts’ latest loss to the San Francisco 49ers has their playoff hopes on their last life. Unless a miracle happens, the team will yet again miss the playoffs and will have to shift its focus to the offseason, considering how they can improve as a team in 2026 compared to its performance in 2025.
The 2026 NFL Draft will be a significant point of emphasis, even though the team won’t have a first-round pick due to their trade for Sauce Gardner. That will make it significantly more complicated for the team to add day-one impact players, but not impossible. I decided it was time for my first attempt at a mock draft for the Colts. Let’s begin with a five-round draft ahead of Week 17.
Colts 5-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft
Without a first-round pick, the Colts will either have to sit back at pick 50 or make another bold move, which would likely be into the first round. I personally don’t think they need to mortgage any more of their draft capital, so in this mock, they stand pat at pick 50 and let the board fall as it may.
2nd round, pick 50: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
The LB group in this years class is very talented, which is perfect for the Colts that need a legit game changer at the position. It’s not a premium position though which likely means a couple LBs people expect to hear their name in round one are going to fall. One of those could be Texas Longhorns LB Anthony Hill Jr. He impacts the game in so many different ways and would automatically be the Colts top LB and could wear alot of hats in Lou Anaruno’s defense.
3rd round, pick 82: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
The Colts’ edge room is in a tough spot going forward. They only have two players under contract beyond this season at the spot in Laiatu Latu and JT Tuimiloau. The room needs a full makeover, and that starts with adding multiple new faces. Tennessee Volunteers’ Joshua Josephs has great size and traits, but still needs polishing before he can reach his full potential. He’s worth a day 2 pick, though, and would add a lot of talent to the room.
4th round, pick 117: Caden Curry, EDGE, Ohio State
As I mentioned, the Colts need multiple new faces in their edge room, so doubling up in the draft at the position looks pretty likely. Ohio State Buckeyes’ Caden Curry was a one-man wrecking ball in the Big Ten title game despite the Buckeyes loss to the Hoosiers. He projects as a solid run stopper at the very least, and I think he has more juice in the pass game than people realize. He’s not an elite athlete by any means, but I think he could end up being a really good pro.
5th round, pick 157: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
Omar Cooper Jr. doesn’t get enough love for how much he meant to the Indiana Hoosiers’ offense this year. He is a YAC machine and can play both inside and out, and I think he could be a nice weapon at the next level. The Colts could use more depth at WR, and honestly, there’s a chance the starting group gets shaken up this offseason.
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