ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
Despite what Bill Tobin’s mailman will tell you, Kiper Jr. has been at this NFL Draft game for a long time for a reason.
The ESPN NFL Draft coverage figurehead has the Colts taking Anthony Hill Jr. in Round 2 to shore up the Colts beleaguered Linebacker core that is lacking both starters and depth. Colts get a 3 down Linebacker with a blend of range, downhill thumping, coverage ability, and instincts to be a starter at either WILL or MIKE.
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ESPN’s Jordan Reid: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech & De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
Jordan Reid opts for two popular picks for the Colts. Rodriguez’s coverage skills and punch out for turnovers are atop this talented Linebacker class. He flies all over the field and if he is there at 47 he will be very tempting to take so he can slide at WILL.
Stribling brings a blend of reliable hands, powerful blocking, and strong sustained speed that makes him a threat at a variety of levels at the Z WR spot. Reggie Wayne also worked out with him and coached him up a bit during the Ole Miss Pro Day, which is a good sign of the Colts interest in him. Both have been commonly mocked to the Colts as strong fits.
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The Athletic’s Dane Brugler: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati & Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Dane Brugler has the Colts getting a different LB, the Bearcat Jake Golday. Golday is a larger LB who is a former Defensive Tackle but has surprising athleticism and range with coverage instincts on top of his clear block shedding skills.
Chris Brazzell II is a downfield threat that has a lot of speed and size at the Z spot to take some of the heat off of Alec Pierce on vertical routes as he expands his role in the offense.
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski: Gabe Jacas, DE, Illinois & Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
Not every analyst is having the Colts take a LB in Round 2. Bleacher Report’s Sobleski has the Colts get a power rusher in Gabe Jacas who has a vicious bull rush and can set a hard edge to help replace the role that Kwity Paye held for the Colts defense.
He also has a double dip in the Defensive Line with Gracen Halton, a penetrating 3 Technique Defensive Tackle with a quick first step and nice set of finesse moves inside to get interior pressure. The Colts haven’t had back to back first picks in their class go on the defensive line since 2021 with Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo. Colts embrace another strong commitment to their defensive line to try to build the unit back up.
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CBS Sports’ Mike Renner: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati & Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Renner is another expert mocking Golday to the Colts, though he might not make it to the Colts at Round 2. The big surprise though is Caleb Banks falling to Round 3 after his foot injuries and 2025 inconsistent play.
Banks is a highly athletic 1 Technique who has rare length, strength, and burst but is a highly risky pick with his injury history. If he falls to Round 3 he might be worth the risk, but for a Colts team with a GM on the last year of his deal and on the hot seat with limited resources, the risk could be too great.
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NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss & Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt
NFL’s Chad Reuter gives the Colts Stribling in Round 2 instead of Round 3, then get Kyle Louis in Round 3.
Louis is another high end coverage LB who would be a great fit at Weakside LB for the Colts with his range, fluidity, zone and man coverage ability. He is a reliable tackler despite his undersized weight, and for a Colts team that has struggled to cover the middle of the field this change at Weakside LB is sorely needed.
The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iver: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State & Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
Iver gives the Colts their first Corner in these mocks with Arizona State nickel Corner Keith Abney II. Abney is a physical corner with reliable mirroring ability, good press ability, and strong speed to keep up with receivers downfield. He also has clutch ball skills.
Still Abney can get a bit grabby downfield and has issues shedding blockers. Still his coverage skills are impressive and the Colts could snag him to get a replacement for Kenny Moore who is on the trade block.
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AtoZ Sports’ Destin Adams: AJ Haulcy, S, LSU & Skyler Bell, WR, Connecticut
Destin Adams has the Colts going for Safety AJ Haulcy. Haulcy can be a Free or a Strong safety and has occasionally played nickel. His blend of speed, hard hitting run defense, football IQ, and zone coverage ability is an exciting mix that could make him a Best Player Available on the board.
Skyler Bell has quick feet and nice cuts with a strong vertical threat but needs to continue to develop his hands. He is an inside out threat who can line up wherever and can be used in a variety of route depths.
Roundtable Sports’ Jake Arthur: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas & De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
Jake Arthur has another mock of Hill and Stribling to the Colts, showing that there is a strong sense of their fit to the Colts.
Final Mock Pick Tally
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De’Zhaun Stribling: 3 Mocks
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Anthony Hill Jr.: 2 Mocks
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Chris Brazzell II: 1 Mock