{"id":732246,"date":"2026-02-05T23:55:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T23:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/732246\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T23:55:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T23:55:26","slug":"colts-projected-to-gain-two-picks-in-2026-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/732246\/","title":{"rendered":"Colts Projected to Gain Two Picks in 2026 NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Indianapolis Colts<\/a>, like every other team, are preparing for the 2026 NFL draft set to take place at the end of April. With the combine around the corner, the Colts will get a closer look at every prospect as they prepare to showcase their talents in front of NFL coaches and scouts. <\/p>\n

The Colts will be working without a first-round pick after they traded it away to the New York Jets in a package for star cornerback Sauce Gardner<\/a>, and they’ll also be without their sixth-round pick, which they traded to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for Mekhi Blackmon<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The Colts are currently slated to have five selections in this year’s draft, but they could gain a couple more. Over The Cap projects the Colts to have two compensatory picks after losing more compensatory free agents (CFAs) than they gained last offseason. <\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/p>\n

Indianapolis Colts General Manager Chris Ballard speaks with media Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at the Colts practice facility in Indianapolis. | Mykal McEldowney\/IndyStar \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Colts Projected Two Compensatory Picks<\/p>\n

Not every free agent is a compensatory free agent. There’s an equation that takes into account playing time, accolades, and salary, but if it’s a decent player, there’s a good chance they are worth a compensatory draft pick. <\/p>\n

All compensatory draft picks are handed out in rounds 3-7. Teams can receive a maximum of four compensatory picks per year. Only UFA players who signed before a specific deadline and were not released by their previous team qualify for the formula.<\/p>\n

Sign Up For the Colts Daily Digest – OnSI\u2019s Indianapolis Colts Newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n

The losses of quarterback Joe Flacco and linebacker E.J. Speed are projected to earn the Colts a sixth-round and seventh-round pick. Although they are two late-round selections, the Colts could get lucky and land a star or use them as draft capital to obtain more established players. <\/p>\n

\"Joe<\/p>\n

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco (15) yells from the line of scrimmage Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | Grace Hollars\/IndyStar \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Colts are the only team in the AFC South that will gain compensatory picks. Considering they only had five selections, these two picks will be a huge help for general manager Chris Ballard during the Colts’ draft process. <\/p>\n

Tom Brady, Antonio Brown, and Justin Tucker are just a few perennial All-Pros taken in the sixth or seventh round. Of course, the odds of the Colts landing a guy that talented are low, but it’s non-zero. <\/p>\n

The Colts will be looking for bargain bin players who can develop into average starters or special teams guys. Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin was a seventh-round pick himself and went on to earn AP Second-Team All-Pro honors a few years later. <\/p>\n

In last year’s draft, the Colts found Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard in the sixth round. Although Leonard only appeared a handful of times, he looked like he could be the backup of the future in Indianapolis. <\/p>\n

As things stand, the Colts appear poised to reap two extra draft assets in 2026. These are only projections, but two picks could be beneficial to the Colts’ draft strategy. <\/p>\n

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