I’ll cut right to the chase because I doubt you’re here to read an intro; you’re here to see which prospects were selected.
General manager Chris Ballard did mention the Indianapolis Colts would be active in trades, and this mock draft certainly reflects that.
Please enjoy the film cutups provided. Opinions were based on the film watched. Lack of a cutup doesn’t reflect an absence of my evaluation on the player. Character evaluations were primarily based on excerpts from Dane Brugler’s The Beast.
Colts trade pick #47 to the Steelers for Pick #53, Pick #135, and Pick #161
This trade is reminiscent of the deal the Colts made in 2024 with the Panthers. In that deal, the Colts gave up pick 46 for picks 52, 152, and 155. The Steelers have twelve picks in total and wanted to move up to select Caleb Banks. Pro Football Network graded it as a slight underpay for the Colts.
Round 2 Pick #53: Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona
Treydan Stukes was my favorite player to watch in this class. He’s been showing up on several “My Guys” lists as the draft draws closer, signaling both independent evaluators and the league are fans of Stukes’ game.
What immediately sticks out when watching the Arizona product on tape is his speed. The combine checked the box, but the tape tells the full story. Stukes showed a proclivity for “hawking” ball carriers down from behind. His makeup speed when closing on in breaking routes from match coverage allows him to play from a variety of alignments. I was further impressed with his ability to fluidly flip his hips to match receivers down the seam and on fades from the slot. The tackling was adequate, and he will play up from the slot when he doesn’t have to tackle larger running backs who have built up a full head of speed.
Stukes’ fit with Lou Anarumo would be hand in glove. Especially with the expected departure of nickel Kenny Moore II, Stukes would fill the big nickel role that has become in vogue. However, the super senior is at his best when his versatility is utilized. I’d imagine Lou would move Stukes all over the defense, including both safety positions, depending on down and distance. The former Arizona Wildcat is plenty experienced, and his well-honed zone instincts exhibit that. Using Stukes to match up against power slot receivers and tight ends while also taking advantage of his ability to play top down from depth means he could immediately be a three-down contributor for Indianapolis.
All of these factors, combined with the fact that Stukes is a former walk-on with impeccable character reports and a 9.95 RAS, lead me to believe that he will be high on the Colts board come Friday evening.
On the surface, it could be surprising, but this would be a fantastic selection here.
Ideally the #Colts don’t rely on a rookie edge for immediate production and swing a trade either during or after the draft.
If so, Treydan Stukes would be my #1 target in round 2, especially with the Kenny Moore news breaking this week. pic.twitter.com/anahbqsRys
— Jack Guiley (@guiley_jack) April 12, 2026
Colts trade pick #78 and pick #113 to the Dolphins for pick #87 and pick #94
A simple swap as the Colts continue to be aggressive, adding picks in the heart of the draft. This trade with the Dolphins gives the Colts another top 100 pick to continue wheeling and dealing down the board
Round 3 Pick #89: Keyshaun Elliott, LB, Arizona State
Consensus is a bit lower on Elliott than this, but I’d take him in the top 75 all else equal. He’s not exceptional in any area, but the athletic baseline and character profile are what set him over the top as a potential Chris Ballard linebacker selection gem.
Elliott does a good job of “sifting through the mud” at the line of scrimmage and comes downhill with authority. He’s a sure tackler who is more likely to beat the blocker to the ball carrier than bull through them. At 6’2” 230, Elliott isn’t at his best deconstructing blocks, but his instincts allow him to sniff out different run looks and bring the play to a halt. He is also a plus blitzer.
Elliott is still working on the finer points of his coverage abilities. The zone instincts aren’t overly refined, and asking him to turn and run to match speed in man coverage consistently would be doing him a disservice. If he can continue to progress in feeling out backside digs, crossers, and drag routes, his athleticism will give him a chance to be a plus zone defender. The key for Elliott will be how he manages space in these instances. Recognizing route concepts that frequently flood his hook/curl zones with in-breaking routes will be a major key.
Keyshaun Elliott looks the part of green dot MIKE in the NFL. An incredibly mature player who was a sophomore team captain at New Mexico State and on the leadership council at Arizona State, scouts have raved about the former Sun Devils’ coachability and work habits. A standout quarterback in high school, Elliott sees the game from that perspective. I don’t see a world where his floor isn’t a valuable contributor on special teams, with the ceiling being much higher.
The Colts will look to add an LB in the upcoming NFL draft. One guy I haven’t seen many people talking about is Arizona State’s Keyshaun Elliott:
– 6-2 235 w/ above average athleticism
– Instinctual run and chase player
– Hard for linemen to square up
– Senior Bowl
– 22.42 GPS pic.twitter.com/nMCPKYvECO— Jack Guiley (@guiley_jack) January 12, 2026
Colts trade pick #94 (through MIA) and pick #156 to the Giants for Kayvon Thibodeaux and a 2027 4th round pick
The Colts take a swing for a talented veteran who could use a change of scenery. Thibodeaux broke out in 2023 with 11.5 sacks, but only had 2.5 in ten games in 2025. His game has developed over the past few years to craft him into more of a stalwart against the run.
Stepping into a starting role in Indianapolis, where the pressure isn’t as all-encompassing as New York, could benefit the young pass rusher. Thibodeaux wasn’t asked to pin his ears back much for Shane Bowen and the Giants over the last two years, either. Anarumo could give the former Oregon Duck more freedom when rushing the passer, unlocking some of the 2023 form that saw Thibodeaux look like one of the most promising young edges in the league.
Thibodeaux is playing 2026 on his fifth-year option at around 14.5 million dollars. A figure the Colts can easily absorb.
Round 4 Pick #135: Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky
Kendrick Law isn’t going to blow you away on the stat sheet or his reception perception profile. In fact, it’s hard to say that the routes Law ran at Kentucky would even constitute a route tree. According to Dane Brugler’s The Beast, the former Kentucky wide receiver had an average depth of target of 3.4 yards. He primarily runs clear-out routes, drags, stops, and out routes from the slot. I’m more interested, and I think the Colts will be too, in the potential Law has to become a starting-level Z receiver at the next level.
While Law wasn’t asked to do much in Kentucky’s offense, when he was tasked with running downfield routes, I thought he displayed impressive adjustments to the ball in the air, an ability to stack defenders vertically and break off out routes at a high level, and set up routes with detailed salesmanship. There is much more to be unlocked in his game.
Law is more linearly explosive than fluidly twitchy, but the speed with his dense build makes him supremely difficult to bring down in the open field. He was one of the top receivers in college football in YAC in 2025. If he cleans up some of his releases when he sees press coverage (more rare from the Z position), Law has the chops to separate already on routes breaking towards the sideline. While sharp in-cuts on digs may prove difficult during his rookie year, I believe deeper crossing and over routes would be on the table for Law, as he already has a decent familiarity with how to get open against zone coverage.
Kendrick Law is a developmental pick who could serve as a fourth receiver and primary special teamer during his rookie year. The upside, and potential day one impact, is much higher than that, however. If Law eagerly participates in the Reggie Wayne and Josh Downs School of Route Running, watch out.
— Jack Guiley (@guiley_jack) April 23, 2026
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— Jack Guiley (@guiley_jack) April 23, 2026
Colts trade QB Anthony Richardson to the Buccaneers for pick #155
Anthony Richardson goes back to his home state of Florida to learn behind another highly drafted quarterback who turned his career around in the Sunshine State. Baker Mayfield is coming up on the final year of his deal, and the Buccaneers could be looking for some high upside insurance behind him. With Mayfield’s propensity for seeking out contact, Richardson could find himself auditioning for the starting job in 2027 at some point during the 2026 season.
Round 5 Pick #155: Anthony Lucas, DE USC
Anthony Lucas is a former five-star recruit who had very little production during his four years in collegiate football. What production he had came this year for the Trojans, when Lucas totaled three sacks. He is relatively new to football, having only started playing during his freshman year of high school. Lucas is another player who could take developmental leaps and bounds if he stays the course and gets proper coaching. He has elite size and length, but doesn’t always use them to his advantage. His go-to pass rush move is a bull rush, which he occasionally lands with devastating results, just too infrequently to be effective. He also has flashed a menacing cross chop and spin move.
Aside from that, Lucas frequently displayed little to no pass rush plan, running into tackles with his chest exposed and hoping to use his strength to bully them. I was pleasantly surprised with his ankle flexion, giving him a chance to convert more sacks at the top of the arc as he develops more counters. At 6’5” 260 lbs, Lucas is an above-average mover for his size, but he needs to hone in on his get-off to maximize his high upside pass-rushing profile. Additionally, the former five-star could do a better job of setting the edge in run defense to get himself on the field more often during his rookie contract.
For Chris Ballard, the sterling character reports and immense untapped potential seal the deal on his selection of Anthony Lucas here in the fifth round.
— Jack Guiley (@guiley_jack) April 23, 2026
Colts trade Kenny Moore II to the Panthers for pick #158
Kenny Moore gets to go back to a competitive team closer to where he is from (Valdosta, Georgia), while the Colts get back another pick in Chris Ballard’s stated “value portion” of the draft. Additionally, for Moore, the Panthers play a high percentage of Fangio-style zone coverages under Ejiro Evero, something that would be more conducive to his success as he ages.
Round 5 Pick #158: Nick Barrett, DT South Carolina
Nick Barrett is a glass-eater in the defensive interior. A one-year starter at South Carolina, Barrett has the prototypical body that NFL defensive coordinators look for at nose tackle. Barrett lined up at 1T and 3T for Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks, but his best fit for the Colts would be as double team absorber inside. There isn’t a whole lot of flash to Barrett’s game; his length and size allow him to occupy space and blockers. He’ll be an interior pocket pusher who will get the occasional cleanup sack due to his high motor, but will rarely produce one-on-one wins against guards and centers when rushing inside. You won’t see him flash any pass rush moves outside of speed to power, but his overall stiffness likely precludes him from ever developing any trump cards in that department.
Universally lauded for his character, the Senior Bowl participant was a four-time SEC honor roll recipient and team captain in 2025. This is the type of young man Chris Ballard and Co have historically bet on.
Barrett will compete right away with Tim Smith for the backup nose tackle job, and I’d bet on him to win the job in camp.
Round 5 Pick #161: Nolan Rucci, OT Penn St.
Nolan Rucci is a smooth-moving tackle from Penn State who, in his college career, showcased flashes of dominance tempered by occasional inconsistency. An eighteen-game starter for the Nittany Lions, Rucci possesses a rare blend of size and nimble footwork, standing 6’8” and weighing roughly 320 lbs. Rucci’s pass protection has room for refinement, particularly when dealing with power through his chest, while his run blocking also has need for growth, especially when he’s trying to use leverage to move defenders off the line of scrimmage.
Rucci’s pedigree, size, and flashes of brilliance could entice Tony Sparano Jr. to give his stamp of approval in working towards making the former Nittany Lion the Colts’ next mid-round swing tackle.
Round 6 Pick #214: Skyler Thomas, SAF Oregon St.
Skyler Thomas has all the usual intangibles of a Colts Day 3 selection. Thomas played all five years at Oregon State, leading the team in tackles in 2024 and 2025 while being named a captain in 2025. Thomas is a big, long athlete with average to above average athleticism for a safety. His change of direction skills were adequate, despite his above average size. From the box, Thomas fills against the run with a level of exuberance not often seen on film. He brings the wood and sets the tone for the rest of the defense. I wouldn’t rule out his ability to rotate into deeper zones in the post. This will likely not ever be a strength of Thomas’ game, however.
The former Oregon State Beaver spent a lot of time on special teams, something that will aid him in making the Colts’ roster.
Had limited film on Skyler Thomas, but liked what I saw as a potential Day 3 option for Indy.
Quick trigger downhill against the run, fitting with authority.
Had some interesting slot reps that showed pretty good COD skills. Definitely could see him in a dime backer role. pic.twitter.com/Gu0PDxUcG4
— Jack Guiley (@guiley_jack) April 15, 2026
Round 7 Pick #249: Dillon Wade, IOL, Auburn
Dillon Wade played at both tackle spots and left guard for Auburn over his last three seasons on the Plains. However, I think his best spot in the NFL would be at center. Wade’s RAS score is remarkably similar to that of Danny Pinter, who was also a college tackle. He is a fantastic athlete for the position and is at his best when he is on the move on pulls, traps, or skipping on outside zone. Wade’s anchor was adequate and seemed to improve over the course of the year, while his independent hands in pass protection showed experience and discipline.
I’d expect him to compete for the backup center role in camp.
The Colts are in the market for a backup center, and I think Auburn’s Dillon Wade could fit the bill later on day 3.
-Started at LT and G at Tulsa and Auburn
-Fluid athlete who excels on the move
-Has a pretty firm anchor
-Feigns early outside hand punch in pp to get hands on pic.twitter.com/TuscxU3wNA— Jack Guiley (@guiley_jack) April 4, 2026
Round 7 Pick #254: Jaden Dugger, LB, Louisiana
A former safety, Jaden Dugger is the perfect dart throw at upside. Dugger possesses elite length (35-inch arms) to go along with real coverage instincts. Dugger feels backside crossers and in breakers, and sinks to step into throwing lanes, like a former safety would. The feel for deconstructing blocks isn’t there yet, but if he can simply read and react, guards have a hard time reaching him. There is a lot to build on with this player, and if he can make a wide-open linebacker room by showing his worth on special teams, Dugger could eventually develop into a starter.
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