In ESPN’s way-too-early 2026 NFL mock draft, the Indianapolis Colts add another pass rusher.
Wait, a 2026 NFL mock draft? That’s right, a 2026 NFL mock draft. ESPN’s Jordan Reid is already taking a way-too-early look ahead to next April for the Indianapolis Colts and the rest of the league.
The Super Bowl odds are what Reid used to determine the draft order. So for the Colts, they are picking at ninth overall.
It’s important to note that making an accurate projection is a nearly impossible task, so this exercise is more so about putting some of the top prospects on our radars prior to the college football season beginning.
Also, if the Colts are picking inside the top 10 next year, you can assume they will be taking a quarterback in the draft as the team hits the reset button throughout the organization.
However, in this mock, Reid had the Colts taking Clemson edge rusher TJ Parker.
Now, you’re probably thinking, ‘another edge rusher?’ But if we look ahead to 2026, even with spending a 2024 first-round pick on Laiatu Latu and a 2025 second-round pick on JT Tuimoloau, this could still be a need in 2026 with Kwity Paye, Tyquan Lewis, and Samson Ebukam all set to be free agents next offseason.
Parker’s production took a big jump from 2023 to 2024, as he went from 35 pressures and six sacks to 51 pressures and 12 sacks, according to PFF. Among all edge defenders, Parker ranked 14th in total pressures, and for what it’s worth, he also graded out very well against the run by PFF’s metrics.
“Parker had a breakout season in 2024, with 11 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles,” Reid wrote. “He is a versatile player capable of playing from multiple pre-snap alignments and stances, using his length as a run defender and closing speed in the pass rush.”