The Colts’ 8-9 finish to the year gives them the No. 14 overall pick in April. That puts Ballard right in the middle of the first round, with multiple options. The team’s recent inconsistency has created an unsettled fanbase desperate for a splash in the draft.
While the roster’s biggest question continues to be quarterback, it would be surprising to see them move in that direction. In the middle of the season, the team benched second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson before giving the job back to him three games later. Richardson is far from safe, but they appear content with sticking with him for at least one more year.
Colts need to target Michigan TE Colston Loveland
If the Colts choose to improve their offense around Richardson, tight end will be their biggest priority. The team has worked with a revolving door of players at the position for years and has not had a stable starter in over half a decade.
There are not a lot of options at the position in the draft, but Michigan junior Colston Loveland has been the clear leader all season. With a 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame, Loveland was compared to Travis Kelce by head coach Sherrone Moore.
Playing in a run-heavy offense, Loveland has not had the numbers that jump out on paper. He posted a career-high 649 receiving yards as a sophomore in 2023 before being limited by injuries in 2024. However, he still hauled in a career-high five touchdowns in 10 games as a junior.
The Colts have Drew Ogletree under contract for one more season but are at risk of losing Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox in free agency. The timing would be perfect for adding a new tight end to their roster, one who would be the best receiving threat they have had at the position in nearly a decade.
Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell is best fit of 2025 NFL Draft
Under Shane Steichen, the Colts have had one of the league’s top tacklers each year, yet they are also in the bottom 10 in rushing yards allowed. In 2024, it was linebacker Zaire Franklin who led the league with 173 total tackles.
While Franklin managed to make his first Pro Bowl in 2024, he did everything else to turn the fanbase against him. He thrived as a mid-field tackler but struggled as a run-stopper while doing everything he could on and off the field to turn the Indianapolis faithful against him. That is not to say that the Colts need to move on from Franklin, but it would be far from the most surprising offseason move.
Neither E.J. Speed nor Jaylon Carlies did enough around Franklin to cover the team’s holes in the middle, making for an uninspiring position group. Speed is set to become a free agent in the offseason, creating at least one opening that Ballard has to consider filling in the draft.
If the Colts go for a linebacker, they should look no further than Jihaad Campbell. Some scouts view Georgia’s Jalon Walker or Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman as the top prospect, but Campbell’s all-around skill set makes him the best fit for the team.
Indianapolis will seek a new defensive coordinator in the summer after firing Gus Bradley. Whoever they bring in for the job could use Campbell in the middle.