After a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, the Colts have plenty of question marks entering the new league year. Quarterback Anthony Richardson and the offense declined, while Indianapolis’ defense allowed the fourth-most yards in football. Now, with the 14th overall pick in the draft, general manager Chris Ballard will hope to find a difference maker.
Ahead of Thursday night, let’s break down the Colts’ NFL Draft odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Indianapolis Colts first round pick prediction
Indianapolis struggled on defense last year, but the front office added cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Camryn Bynum in free agency. That should allow the Colts to take the draft’s best player available. Still, there are a few needs that can’t be ignored.
Right now, the Colts selecting a tight end (+100) has the lowest odds of any position. Looking over Indianapolis’ depth chart, it’s easy to see why. A group led by Mo Alie-Cox doesn’t inspire much confidence. Considering the team’s issues at quarterback, a safety blanket is ideal for either Richardson or Daniel Jones.
It helps that this year’s draft class has two potential Pro Bowlers at tight end. Penn State’s Tyler Warren is a potential top-ten pick, even drawing comparisons to the great Travis Kelce. He’s a matchup nightmare with yards after catch skills you can’t teach. Michigan’s Colston Loveland is also an elite prospect, albeit for different reasons. The 6’5″ target is one of the best route runners at the position in recent NFL history.
Should the Colts go in a different direction, the next-most likely position would be offensive lineman (+270). Once a major strength, Indianapolis’ pass protection has declined in recent years. However, it appears that the team has a bigger need at guard rather than tackle. Keeping that in mind, this makes more sense as a Day 2 selection rather than pick #14.
There’s always a risk that two teams fall in love with Warren and Loveland. However, once one of the pair is selected, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Ballard trade up. In a perfect world, it won’t get to that point and the Colts will be able to stand pat. As long as a tight end is available, it’s difficult to envision any other position being taken here.
