Indianapolis Colts are in a good position to shake up the 2026 NFL Draft in a big way, even without owning a first-round pick
Even without a first-round pick, the Indianapolis Colts are in a great position to be a team that could create some massive waves during the 2026 NFL Draft, but it would take them getting aggressive.
The Indianapolis Colts are going to have to sit and wait for a while after the 2026 NFL Draft begins. The team elected to trade their first-round pick this year as part of a trade package for Sauce Gardner. Now, the team’s first selection in this year’s draft doesn’t occur until pick 47.
Without a first-round selection, you would assume their impact on the draft would be minimal. On the contrary, it seems likely that the team will make a lot of waves in this year’s draft. Two reasons are the players they are expected to trade away. However, I also think they should add a player via trade themselves before the draft ends.
Colts could be a part of multiple trades during the 2026 NFL Draft, with Anthony Richardson and Kenny Moore II expected to be dealt elsewhere
The Colts currently hold the 47th pick in the second round of next week’s draft. The team owns seven total picks in this year’s draft. However, general manager Chris Ballard has made it known he expects to end with more than that. This could signal a trade down at some point, but the team also hopes to add picks in another way.
The Colts have granted two players on their roster permission to seek a trade. Those being quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. and cornerback Kenny Moore II.
If the team is going to pull off a trade for either player, the value would be better before or during the draft. So the Colts could easily be part of at least two notable draft trades.
They would be wise also to try to add a player via trade during the draft
I don’t think the Colts should stop there, though. Even after gaining more draft capital from trading Richardson and Moore, the team still needs more help than the draft can provide. The Colts are looking for starters at the following positions: edge rusher, linebacker, safety, and wide receiver. You could also argue they need to add competition for starting spots at corner and right tackle as well.
The team only has two picks in the top 100, which will make it hard to land too many day-one starters in this class. They would be wise to try to use any added capital from potential Richardson and Moore trades to land a starter of their own via trade.
Personally, I think targeting an edge rusher like Jonathan Greenard from the Minnesota Vikings or Josh Sweat of the Arizona Cardinals would be the best fit. But if they could land a starter at any of their positions of weakness, it would be smart for their overall roster build.
