Indianapolis Colts 2026 Mock Draft: Surviving Without a First-Rounder

Let’s be honest, Colts fans—this upcoming draft is going to feel a little weird. We’re all used to the Thursday night spectacle, the anxiety, the “will they or won’t they” drama of the first round. But this year? We’ll be watching from the sidelines. And you know what? I’m completely fine with that.

Why? Because losing that first-round pick meant landing Sauce Gardner. If you ask me if I’d rather have a proven shutdown corner or a “maybe” at pick 20, I’m taking Sauce every single day of the week and twice on Sundays.

However, reality is setting in. The Colts are staring down the barrel of a five-year playoff drought. That is an eternity in the NFL. It’s painful. We need roster upgrades, specifically on defense, and we have to find them starting on Day 2. We can’t afford to miss.

So, with the Senior Bowl in the rearview and the combine approaching, here is how I see Chris Ballard and the front office navigating a draft where they have to be perfect with their limited capital.

Round 2, Pick 47: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami

Here is the thing about Akheem Mesidor: he’s going to turn 25 in April. In NFL draft circles, that’s practically geriatric. A lot of war rooms are going to take him off their board simply because he’s “too old.”

The Colts don’t have the luxury of drafting a 20-year-old project player who needs three years to develop. We need a guy who can walk into the locker room, put his hand in the dirt, and sack the quarterback immediately.

Mesidor just came off a monster season at Miami—12.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. He was a one-man wrecking crew. With only Laiatu Latu and J.T. Tuimoloau really locked in at DE, the Colts need a grown man who is ready to work. Mesidor is that guy.

Round 3, Pick 78: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh

If you watched the Colts’ linebackers try to cover anyone in the passing game last year, you probably still have nightmares about it. It was, to put it mildly, a disaster. It limited everything Lou Anarumo wanted to do defensively.

Enter Kyle Louis. He made himself a ton of money at the Senior Bowl. He’s undersized—5’11”, 224 lbs—but he plays like he’s shot out of a cannon. He’s got that “dog” in him that you can’t coach. He was flying around Mobile, sticking to tight ends and running backs in coverage like glue. He might not fit the traditional linebacker mold, but modern football is about speed and coverage, and Louis brings that in spades. He’s a Day 1 starter.

Round 4, Pick 113: Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati

First off, let’s address the obvious: his nickname is “The Godfather.” That alone makes him worth a fourth-round pick. But nicknames aside, we need insurance behind Grover Stewart. He can’t play every single snap, and the drop-off when he leaves the field has been noticeable. Corleone is a classic gap-eater.

He’s strong, he’s nasty in the run game, and he anchors the line. Getting a rotational nose tackle in the fourth round who can actually hold his own against NFL guards is a steal. This is a depth pick, sure, but it’s the kind of pick that wins you games in December.

Round 5, Pick 154: Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech

This pick is all about the uncertainty surrounding Nick Cross. He’s hitting free agency, and if the bidding war gets too rich, the Colts might have to wave goodbye.

Wisniewski is one of those “tweeners.” Is he a safety? Is he a linebacker? At 6’4″, 220 lbs, he’s a massive human being for the secondary. But that hybrid versatility is exactly what Anarumo’s defense thrives on. Whether he’s playing in the box or dropping back, he adds a layer of physicality we need. Put him in a competition with Hunter Wohler and let the best man win.

Round 7, Pick 230: Vinny Anthony II, WR, Wisconsin

It wouldn’t be a Ballard draft without taking a kid from Wisconsin, right? It’s practically a tradition at this point.

The wide receiver room is in flux. Alec Pierce is a free agent, and Michael Pittman Jr.’s contract is taking up a massive chunk of cap space. We need cheap depth with upside. Vinny Anthony II is a scrappy player who can operate from the slot or outside. He fights through press coverage surprisingly well for a late-round guy. In the seventh round, you’re looking for traits and effort, and this Badger has both.