Colts 7-round 2026 NFL mock draft: Indy lands a Senior Bowl standout and a game-wrecker from the national championship game
A new Colts seven-round 2026 NFL mock draft shows the Colts aggressively targeting the defense by adding several potential Day 1 starters.
The Indianapolis Colts have to make significant roster upgrades this offseason, and they will have to do so without owning a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, thanks to their trade for Sauce Gardner.
This will limit the team’s ability to land a premium talent in the NFL Draft, but it doesn’t make it impossible. There are plenty of players across the NFL who have been named to Pro Bowls and even All-Pro lists despite not being first-round picks. The Colts have to end their five-year playoff drought, and winning the draft will go a long way to helping them do just that.
Colts 2026 7-round mock draft
The Super Bowl is upon us, but the draft cycle has already begun, with the Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl in the rearview mirror. The Colts own five draft picks for the 2026 NFL Draft with the potential to add more in the coming months, via the NFL compensatory pick formula. So now feels like a good time to share my first seven-round Colts mock draft of the year.
Round 2, Pick 47: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Miami Hurricane defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor is my dream pick for the Colts in the second round. He was a dominant force in 2025 and had the best season of his six-year college career. He set new career highs with 62 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and led the ACC with 12.5 sacks.
If Mesidor were younger, he would be a lock to be a first-round pick, but the fact that he turns 25 in April will deter some teams. His age and experience can be a positive for a team like the Colts that desperately needs immediate impact at the EDGE position. The Colts only have two players under contract at the position heading into the offseason: starter Laiatu Latu and their second-round pick from last year, J.T. Tuimoloau.
Round 3, Pick 78: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
I don’t think there’s any player who made more of their opportunity at the Senior Bowl than Pittsburgh LB Kyle Louis. He showed just how dangerous he is in coverage, and even with a smaller build than your typical LB, at 5-11 and 224 pounds, he still plays with a lot of force.
The Colts had one of the worst coverage LB groups in the NFL in 2025, and that limits what Lou Anarumo can do at times as a play-caller. Louis would be a Day 1 starter for the Colts, and even though he was viewed as a Day 3 prospect before the Senior Bowl, he’s earned some Day 2 buzz.
Round 4, Pick 113: Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati
Nose tackle isn’t often mentioned as a top need for the Colts, given starter Grover Stewart’s high regard. The team needs to add more depth behind him, as it doesn’t have a clear backup who can play a significant amount of snaps to take some of the pressure off Stewart.
Cincinnati’s Dontay Corleone is one of multiple intriguing NTs in this year’s class. He’s a gap eater who uses his brute strength to make his presence known in the run game. He would be a great addition to the team and could be trusted to play pretty early in his career, even as an early Day 3 pick. He also has one of the best nicknames in “The Godfather,” thanks to his last name.
Round 5, Pick 154: Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech
There’s some real uncertainty about whether the Colts will retain safety Nick Cross, who is set to become a free agent. If his price tag gets too high, the Colts will likely have to let him walk. If that happens, Texas Tech’s Cole Wisniewski would be an intriguing player for the Colts to consider.
Wisniewski is a bit of a tweener, with some around the NFL thinking he could be a better LB than a safety. I think his skill set would make him a perfect fit for Lou Anarumo’s defense, which used Cross in a hybrid role anyway. A competition between Hunter Wohler, Wisniewski, and a veteran free agent could be an excellent way for the Colts to pivot if Cross signs elsewhere.
Round 7, Pick 230: Vinny Anthony II, WR, Wisconsin
The Colts’ WR room could see some changes this offseason. Alec Pierce is set to become a free agent, and Michael Pittman Jr.’s large cap hit has affected his status with the team. It’d be safe to assume the Colts add at least one WR via free agency and the draft on top of potentially re-signing Pierce.
It’s a challenging class to predict which Day 3 WRs will go in the fifth round and which will fall to the seventh. An option that could fit the Colts, though, is Wisconsin WR Vinny Anthony II. He has the flexibility to play in the slot or on the outside. I love his release at the line of scrimmage, and he fights through press coverage well. Chris Ballard loves drafting Badgers, and Anthony II is one I could see him favoring.
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