The NFL Draft is finally complete and instead of speculating we can analyze and critique all that happened over the weekend. This Colts 2025 Draft Class is arguably the most important draft for this franchise in the Ballard era as the expectations have been set by owner Jim Irsay. It’s playoffs or bust and some of these picks reflected that. We did not see the typical “small school guys” with great potential. This time we saw all picks come from Power Five schools. However, without figuring out the quarterback position none of this will matter. So, with that said, let’s dive into my thoughts on this weekend’s picks.
Round 1: Pick 14
Penn State TE Tyler Warren
Nearly all Colts mock drafts for local reporters had only two names, Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren. With Loveland going #10 to Chicago, the race was on to acquire Warren. Somehow, Warren fell straight into the lap of the Indianapolis Colts. General manager Chris Ballard confirmed how confident he was turning that draft card. The easiest one since drafting Quinton Nelson.
Colts GM Chris Ballard: “The last time I felt that good about a pick was Quenton [Nelson]. It was easy.”
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) April 25, 2025
Warren was the no-brainer pick here. The Colts tight end room was abysmal last season. While some said it was too early to pick a tight end, the need superseded the draft position. Sometimes you reach for a quarterback in the first round because it’s a need at an important position. The same thought process here. Steichen has proven he can scheme up a tight end and Warren can be used all over the field. The quarterback needs a security blanket and that’s exactly what Warren gives them. He can turn a short gain into larger chunk play very quickly.
Round 2: Pick 45
Ohio State Edge J.T. Tuimoloau
The Colts grabbed another player from the Big Ten in a position of need. Tuimoloau shined at the biggest moments of the season including the College Football Playoffs, where he recorded 6.5 sacks in the four playoff games. He led the Ohio State defense along with now-drafted Jack Sawyer and future first-round pick and Josh Downs’ brother, Caleb, last season.
His strengths are exactly what the Colts look for and need this season. While not the fastest off the line of scrimmage, he is relentless in getting around the edges. His awareness is off the charts and he has fantastic footwork. He will likely be a rotational player to start (like Tyquan Lewis) but don’t be surprised to see him grow into a starter’s role very quickly. Especially with the upcoming contract situations of the defense.
Round 3: Pick 80
Minnesota CB Justin Walley
The third player from the Big Ten was a bit of a surprise as the Colts have addressed this area of the secondary in free agency. The Colts signed both Charvarius Ward and Corey Ballentine, albeit for two very different roles. One thing to keep in mind, Jaylon Jones, Sam Womack, and JJ Brents were all drafted or picked up during the Gus Bradley regime. That regime is gone, and a new one is in place.
Did they reach for Walley? Maybe but they clearly saw something on tape they loved. He is a ballhawk of a cover corner who played against solid competition each week in the Big Ten. With the three mentioned above being grandfathered in, Walley can be the first real secondary pick for new Colts DC Lou Anarumo.
Round 4: Pick 127
Iowa State OT Jalen Travis
This pick tipped the hand of the depth chart for the summer camps. As we expected, it appears they might be trying to move swing lineman Matt Goncalves to right guard. While nothing is confirmed, it appears to be moving that way.
What stands out about Travis is his size. He is 6’8 and 340 pounds. An absolute monster and he played both right side and left side in college. He has terrific athleticism and agility for someone with such an elite size. Blake Freeland has not worked out with Indianapolis and this might be his replacement in the short term.
Round 5: Pick 151
Kansas State RB DJ Giddens
The Colts solidified their running back room with the selection of DJ Giddens. The Colts did bring in Khalil Herbert this offseason but don’t rule out Giddens to challenge for the RB2 position. He has great field vision and can catch the ball out of the backfield. His weakness is pass protection but that’s typical of most rookie running backs. If he can learn to pass protect then his transition to NFL viability can be accelerated.
Round 6: Pick 189
Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard
The competition in the quarterback room grows to the QB3 spot now. It’s not a surprise that the Colts grabbed a QB late in the draft. In my opinion, you should always have a developmental QB on the roster. Leonard (for the moment) is nothing more than that.
Leonard led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to an appearance in the CFB Playoff National Championship. He shined in the opening drive but tapered off after that. Leonard trained with former Colts QB Philip Rivers this offseason and Rivers and Steichen continue to have a close relationship.
Round 6: Pick 190
Alabama DT Tim Smith
The media seems to be split on this pick. Some say they love the pick and some do not. Smith comes from the Alabama football factory and played most of his career under the tutelage of Nick Saban. He could be a rotational player, but he is a stout run defender who struggles in the pass rush. He will have to improve in that department if he wants some real playing time. He will fight to make this team on the defensive line with both Neville Gallimore and Adetomiwa Adebawore rounding out the competition.
Round 7: Pick 232
Wisconsin LB Hunter Wohler
Another Big Ten pick for this franchise as they dip into the Wisconsin pipeline once again. Wohler played safety at Wisconsin but when he was drafted the Colts website said linebacker, so it will be interesting to see where they decide to place him at.
The Colts struggled at tackling last season and Wohler is an exceptional tackler and that skill will be used predominantly on special teams. He played mostly zone coverage and excelled at run defense, which we all know the Colts could not stop last season.
Did the Colts hit every need in this draft? They did not. They still have some questions at right guard, linebacker, and safety (particularly depth). The wild card for guard is Matt Goncalves, if he is the starter at right guard then this offensive line should be fine in the short term. Overall, a solid draft for this front office and coaching staff but how they develop will always be the most important aspect of any pick going forward.
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