Another combine has come and gone again in Indianapolis, and this began the unofficial start of the 2025 season. Of course, the teams and staff raved again about another solid effort by the city of Indianapolis, which is not unexpected. This city always delivers when it comes to big events. The combine will return to Indy in 2026 but after that, it remains to be determined.
The Colts brought in some key players for interviews this week and this article will recap what he heard and what I think they could bring to this franchise. After a wobbly press conference from Chris Ballard to start the season where I felt it was the same old Ballard, these names show us where they are really looking to improve. Some reassurance should come from the positions of main interviews. Those include tight end, quarterback, linebacker, running back and secondary. All areas of extreme need for this football team.
Offensive Player Interviews
Michigan TE Colston Loveland
Loveland is my personal favorite of the bunch, but he is not as complete as Warren. Loveland is a play-making machine but lacks the blocking ability that Warren can provide. He has drawn comparisons to Steelers TE Pat Friermuth and it’s not far off. Loveland has a bit more athleticism. He can beat you both vertically and horizontally through the air. With the Colts struggling to find an identity with tight ends, Loveland would bring that pass-catching threat to an offense that desperately needs it.
Loveland did not do any drills at the combine, as he is recovering from an injury he suffered in college. He has been cleared by a doctor and will be ready for training camp. He comes from the University of Michigan where Jim Harbaugh ran his program like an NFL franchise. He is ready for the next level and will most likely be available when the Colts are on the clock.
Penn State TE Tyler Warren
If you ask any Colts fan who they want at #14, the consensus seems to be Tyler Warren. He is the top tight end in the draft this year and it’s not particularly close. You could argue Michigan prospect Colston Loveland, but Warren is the more complete prospect. Warren is a bit larger but has that unique blocking ability and Penn State utilized him under center for gadget plays as well.
He excels in space and can get you chunk plays after the catch. The matchup mismatches he can provide will leave coordinators guessing. Warren (even without working out) grew his stock with some reportedly solid interviews, and his stock will only rise heading into next month’s draft. It’s doubtful that he will be available at #14 but if this is the prospect you covet, then you need to go get him. Period.
Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II
Ballard has begun to tip his hand on how they will look to replace the depth at running back this upcoming season. I thought Ballard would look to free agency, but it appears he wants to go the cheaper and more logical route with the draft. Gordon has the size and speed combo that teams look for in a draft prospect. Gordon won the Doak Walker award along with Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 before an underwhelming last season.
He does have some baggage after a DUI arrest in July that saw minimal punishment from the university. Along with needing some coaching on his blocking abilities, how far will it push him down the boards? Ballard rarely drafts prospects with an arrest record so getting an interview with him to judge where he is now is not surprising.
Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty
This one came as a bit of a surprise when he announced at his media session he was meeting with Indianapolis. However, if you think about it and dig into the reasons behind it, it makes some sense. Yes, the franchise has a bell cow back with Jonathan Taylor but with his inability to play a full season since 2021, the need for a strong backup is necessary.
Not here to question Jonathan Taylor but he only has two years left on his current contract and Jeanty was, without question, the #1 running back in college football last season. Jeanty finished #2 in Heisman voting and won the Maxwell and Doak Walker awards. Taylor has an out in his contract next season and the franchise would only incur approximately 2.5 million in dead cap. Jeanty would be a help us now and potential successor to Jonathan Taylor if Colts blow up next season if this regime fails.
Texas QB Quinn Ewers
Chris Ballard opened his annual combine presser by announcing that Anthony Richardson will be in an open competition for his starting job. While not surprising, it was meant to light a fire in him for the upcoming season. If the Colts do not grab a viable veteran to battle Richardson, then someone like Quinn Ewers makes a lot of sense.
Ewers led Texas to two consecutive CFB playoff appearances even in the shadow of a high-profile backup in Arch Manning waiting for him to make a mistake and pounce on the job. However, Ewers didn’t flinch and played well. He did have some injuries that allowed Manning to see the field but when Ewers played, he played fairly well. He was far from perfect and made some mistakes. He does struggle with the short throws but can throw an accurate deep ball. He needs some polishing but if you can grab him in the early to mid-rounds, he would be great competition for Richardson.
Defensive Player Interviews
Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston
Hairston ran a blazing 4.3 40-yard dash which will now shoot him up draft boards. Not sure if they wanted to try to grab him on day two but his combine performance might change his status amongst the prospects. Where Hairston lacks in size, he showed he will make up for it in his speed.
That small size will likely push him to the inside corner position or slot/nickel spot. This would be a terrific depth piece behind starter Kenny Moore II. The franchise currently has no one on the depth chart behind him so the need is warranted. Whether or not, Hairston is scooped up before we can draft him is another question. Where the Colts deem their true needs will dictate where he is on the team’s draft board.
Clemson LB Barrett Carter
No surprise here that the Colts looked to bring in a linebacker for a closer look. The Colts have both EJ Speed and Grant Stuard testing free agency in the coming weeks. No disrespect to the other on the roster but they also lack real depth at this position. Drafting Barrett Carter on Day 2 would eliminate that worry.
The Clemson linebacker is ranked as a top 5 at his position for the upcoming draft. A tad undersized but showed but performed well in other combine drills. Carter did not run the 40-yard dash at the combine but is expected to at the Clemson Pro Day. If Carter comes in around 4.5 seconds, he should have no problem being a Day 2 selection. Carter can bring some versatility to this position for the Colts and help solidify the linebacker room.
Georgia Safety Malaki Starks
Like Tyler Warren being the consensus offensive player on the Colts’ wish list, Starks would be that same pick for the defense. The Colts have many needs, but the secondary is by far the most desperate on that side of the ball. New defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo mentioned to the media that the focus needs to be on the secondary. The coaching hires they made this season also confirm that.
Starks has played at the highest level of college football and was a member of the Georgia team that won the CFB Playoffs in 2023 and was a First Team All-American last season. He has the potential to be a day-one starter on this football team.
Alabama Safety Malachi Moore
Rounding out the reported interviews for the Indianapolis Colts is Alabama Safety Malachi Moore. Not graded as high as Malaki Starks but can be just as good for this team. Is Moore as NFL-ready as Starks? Not much is known as he is recovering from sports hernia surgery and should be ready to do all the drills at the Alabama Pro Day
With Moore not engaging in the combine, we must go off the tape from Alabama. The majority of Moore’s college career was coached by famed Alabama head coach Nick Saban. The two are still close to this day and Saban raved about him during his time at Alabama. Praising him on his abilities to adapt to what was needed and rarely complained about his role, whether large or small. His football IQ and leadership qualities would be a welcome addition to the locker room for the upcoming season.
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