Jan. 27, 2026, 3:33 p.m. ET
How does the talent at the top of the 2026 NFL draft align with what the Indianapolis Colts’ needs are this offseason?
Daniel Jeremiah recently put together his initial top 50 prospect rankings, providing us with some insight into which position groups are loaded with talent.
Now, the tricky part for the Colts is that they do not own a first-round pick this year after trading it to acquire Sauce Gardner. That will put a premium on GM Chris Ballard hitting on his Day 2 selections, where certainly talent and instant help can be found.
Here is a positional breakdown of Jeremiah’s top 50 prospects:
Quarterback: 2Running back: 2Wide receiver: 11Tight end: 1Interior offensive line: 2Offensive tackle: 7Defensive tackle: 5Defensive end: 8Linebacker: 4Cornerback: 5Safety: 3Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
From the sounds of it, this offseason, addressing the defense will be a big priority for Ballard.
In his season-ending press conference, Ballard mentioned the need for “more fuel” along the defensive front, referencing the pass rush, which could mean another early-round defensive end selection.
Ballard also discussed the need to get younger and faster on defense. Although he didn’t specify which positions applied to, linebacker and defensive tackle could fall into that category.
Beyond those position groups, safety and wide receiver could be classified as next-tier-down needs, depending on what happens in free agency. While offensive line, tight end, and running back depth could be bolstered as well.