Colts Took a Big Step Forward in Righting the Ship With Day 2 Draft Haul

Indianapolis Colts' longtime general manager Chris Ballard has worked his trade-back magic once again, but will it be enough?

Mar 1, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Indianapolis Colts entered the 2026 NFL draft with a surplus of needs. Some positions stood out more than others, such as off-ball linebacker and defensive end, but other openings at strong safety and wide receiver remained despite adding veterans to those rooms in free agency.

To make matters worse, the Colts entered NFL Draft weekend without a first-round pick after trading it away to the New York Jets as part of a blockbuster haul for star cornerback Sauce Gardner.

As a result, the Colts were left with seven draft picks across rounds 2-7, with just two being Day 2 (rounds 2-3) selections. The Colts were one of six teams that entered the NFL Draft without a first-round pick, and one of eight that entered Day 2 (rounds 2-3) having not made a first-round selection.

Due to this, the Colts were seen as one of the most likely contenders to trade back from one of their two Day 2 picks. Not only based on the fact that general manager Chris Ballard is known to trade back for additional draft capital, nor because he hinted at doing so throughout the pre-draft process, but because this Colts regime is headed into a true make-or-break season.

The Colts have famously been underachievers since Chris Ballard took over as general manager heading into the 2017 season. A lot of slack has been given to him since quarterback Andrew Luck’s unforeseen retirement ahead of the 2019 season, and for good reason, but enough time has passed to move on from said experiment, and he’s still leading the charge.

CEO and Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in her postseason press conference that 'the sense of urgency has never been higher' for Ballard and Co. to right the ship as we head into the 2026 season, but fans are ultimately fed up with years of mediocrity.

Furthermore, the Colts have often found themselves in a must-win draft scenario over the years after glaring needs were disregarded in free agency prior to draft weekend. Forcing themselves to draft a day-one contributor has been a common complaint of the era in question, but it wouldn’t be as frustrating if the Colts hit on said draft pick(s) more often than they have.

The lack of needs addressed entering draft weekend is the ultimate issue. That's why there's always been a magnifying glass on the Colts' draft results under Chris Ballard. It used to be believed that Ballard was such a strong drafter that less could be more in free agency, but the results over his nine-year tenure speak for themselves: one playoff win and zero AFC South divisional titles.

With that being said, this regime is on the cusp of maximizing its limited draft capital in its most pivotal draft to date.

The Indianapolis Colts kicked off their draft by trading their second-round (47th overall) and seventh-round (249th overall) draft selections to the Pittsburgh Steelers for their second-round (53rd overall), fourth-round (135th overall), and seventh-round (237th overall) draft selections.

The Colts would choose not to trade back again in the middle rounds, ultimately selecting Georgia linebacker CJ Allen (53rd overall) and LSU safety A.J. Haulcy (78th overall).

Chris Ballard did mention in his post-Day 2 press conference that there was an offer on the table to move back again, but they did not want to risk losing CJ Allen and chose to stay put at No. 53.

A major need at linebacker was addressed in the form of a day-one starter in CJ Allen, while the defensive backfield, specifically at safety, was immediately improved by adding A.J. Haulcy.

Allen slots in nicely as the immediate Zaire Franklin replacement, whereas Haulcy adds much-needed competition to an uninspired safety room and projects to have the inside track for the starting strong safety spot.

But if these two draft selections addressed the Colts' needs, as well as adding just one late-round pick in the process, then why does Chris Ballard deserve praise? It's still April, and his free agency moves (or lack thereof) ultimately put him in this position, so what's the big deal?

The optimism is sprouting from not only the caliber of prospects they were able to land, but also where they ultimately landed them. The Consensus Big Board suggests that the Colts' two Day 2 draft selections are viewed as steals based on where they landed.

Consensus Big Board

CJ Allen: 35th overall
A.J. Haulcy: 56th overall

Draft Selection

CJ Allen: 53rd overall
A.J. Haulcy: 78th overall

Consensus rankings only mean so much when we see teams every year 'reach' for players they are higher on, but the value of such still matters. The Colts landing Allen and Haulcy are wins of their own right, but snagging them deeper than consensus suggested is an even bigger win.

Ballard suggested in his post-Day 2 press conference that the early run on EDGE defenders in the second round ultimately caused them to pivot, but they still came out nicely with two BPA (Best Player Available) players who just so happen to match two of their most pressing needs.

"A lot of it--a lot of them went early...But we do think there are some guys in the 4th-6th rounds that are gonna add a little juice as a rusher," Ballard said in regards to leaving Day 2 without another defensive end.

Then again, it's likely a blessing in disguise that Ballard was unable to spend yet another draft selection on defensive end. His track record over the years, especially when drafting the position in the second round, leaves a lot to be desired. Such names include Kemoko Turay, Ben Banogu, Tyquan Lewis, Dayo Odeyingbo, and, most recently, Jaylahn Tuimoloau.

In his final response of the press conference in question, Ballard hinted at the possibility of trading for a veteran defensive lineman following the NFL Draft, so be on the lookout for a potential move post-draft.

Rounds two and three were a much-needed first step in the right direction, but we must remain cautiously optimistic because Chris Ballard's draft antics tend to win us back come draft weekend.

Perhaps it's the near-decade of pent-up desperation for sustained success, or the yearning for a mere divisional title (in one of the perennial worst divisions in football), but something about draft weekend almost seems to provide some sense of direction.

There's admittedly no reason to believe that this regime will right the ship, but they've taken a massive step toward doing so with their second and third-round selections. I will give credit where credit's due, but I am in no way claiming this alone moves the needle. Ballard and Co. will first have to continue their strong start into the latter stages of the draft before we can begin thinking that way.

After all, they are entering the season with a massive question mark at quarterback, so this roster has to be among the league's best if any real playoff aspirations are to be had. That goal became more attainable following Day 2, but Chris Ballard and Co. must find more than just a couple of gems in the final stages of the draft if the Colts want a real shot at playoff contention.

With an added dart throw in the form of a fourth-round pick (135th overall), the Colts enter Day 3 (rounds 4-7) in a much more favorable position. If their draft order remains unchanged, it’ll only be eight picks compared to their original seven entering the weekend, but as many dart throws as possible is what this regime needs most, so don't count out more patented Ballard trade-backs.

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