Get to know the Colts 2026 NFL Draft class: Indy reshapes defense with youth and speed ahead of playoff or bust year
Get to know more about all eight members of the Indianapolis Colts 2026 NFL Draft class that began with Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen and ended with Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks.
The Indianapolis Colts had to maneuver the 2026 NFL Draft without a first-round pick. The team still landed multiple intriguing plays in the class that will help improve the roster.
I have already graded each pick in the class in separate articles, but I also want to provide you all with more background information on each player drafted by the Colts. So without further ado, let’s get to know the Colts 2026 NFL Draft class.
Colts’ Final 2026 Draft Class
Below is the team’s full draft class, in the order the team drafted each player.
Round 2, pick 53: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
C.J. Allen was a four-star recruit from Georgia who decided to stay home and play his college ball at Georgia in Athens. He carved out a role as a freshman, appearing in all 14 games and logging five starts. Allen was a full-time starter over his last two years and led the team in tackles in 2025 with 88. He earned First Team All-SEC and First Team All-American honors. Now he joins the Colts, where he will be the day one MIKE starter and has a shot to wear the green dot in Lou Anarumo’s defense.
Round 3, pick 78: AJ Haulcy, S, LSU
AJ Haulcy didn’t begin his career at LSU. After being only a three-star high school recruit out of Houston, Texas, he committed to New Mexico. He had a strong year there and transferred back home to play for Houston in 2023 and 2024. There, he started all 24 games and recorded five interceptions and eight pass deflections in 2024, leading the team and the Big 12.
He transferred one more time for his senior year to play for LSU. He led the team with three interceptions and earned First Team All-SEC honors. Haulcy now comes to the Colts, where he projects to be a day-one starting safety with Cam Bynum. The team has hinted at having a trade-off between the two safety positions to create more creative opportunities on the back end.
Round 4, pick 113: Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky
Jalen Framer began his college career at Florida. He appeared in only four games and logged zero starts over his two years with the program. He transferred to Kentucky in 2024 and started all 24 of the team’s games during his final two seasons. Farmer became a dominant run blocker in the SEC, and his impressive athleticism has many believing his ceiling as a pass rusher is better than what he showed in college. He was viewed as a fringe third to fourth round player and will likely have a chance to compete with Matt Goncalves as a rookie to be the starting right guard.
Round 4, pick 135: Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
Bryce Boettcher was a three-star high school recruit, but not as a linebacker, but as a dual-threat quarterback. He ended up committing to Oregon, but not to play football, but to play baseball. Boettcher eventually made the football team through a walk-on tryout and decided to play both sports in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He was drafted in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft but opted to use his final year of football eligibility at Oregon, and has now been drafted by the Colts to play linebacker in the NFL.
Round 5, pick 156: George Gumbs Jr., EDGE, Florida
George Gumbs Jr. was a do-it-all weapon for his high school team in the Chicago area. During his career, he took snaps at fullback, tight end, wide receiver, and, as his primary position, safety. He began his college career in 2021 at Northern Illinois as a walk-on. Gumbs was a wide receiver and tight end during his first two years before moving to edge in 2023. He played in 12 games and started seven games, recording 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss
Round 6, pick 214: Caden Curry, EDGE, Ohio State
Before he was a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Caden Curry grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He went to Center Grove, where he helped the team win the back-to-back 6A state championships in 2020 and 2021. Curry committed to Ohio State out of high school. He had to wait his turn during his first three years, having just a minimal role. This past year, he got his chance to shine, and he made the most of it. He led the Buckeyes with 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. Now he will try to make his hometown team’s roster in training camp.
Round 7, pick 237: Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky
Seth McGowan has great size for a running back at 6-0, 223 lbs. Size that he uses that frame to his benefit. He is a powerful runner who also has more speed than you’d expect, as shown by his 4.49 40-yard dash. McGowan’s college career was a true roller coaster ride. He has transferred to a new school in each of the last six years.
He began his career at Oklahoma in 2020, then transferred to Kentucky in 2021, but was dismissed from the school due to an ongoing legal situation. Transferred again in 2022 to Texas College, to Buter Community College in 2023. He finally found his way back to the football field in 2024 with New Mexico State. And he ended his career back at Kentucky, where he had his best year, with 725 yards and 12 touchdowns. Hopefully, he’s able to finally find some stability with the Colts after being drafted in the seventh round, reuniting with Kentucky teammate Jalen Farmer.
Round 7, pick 254: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
Deion Burks is returning to the state of Indiana, where he began his college career in 2021 at Purdue. His first three college seasons were at Purdue, including a 2023 season in which he started all 12 games and recorded 629 yards and 7 touchdowns. This led him to transfer to Oklahoma in 2024, but, sadly, his first year with the Sooners was cut short by multiple injuries. He returned to the player we saw in 2023 during his final season in Norman. Recording 57 receptions, 620 yards, and four touchdowns, and being a dynamic deep ball threat.
