GREEN BAY, Wis. — Offense took center stage for the Indianapolis Colts on Day 1 of the NFL Draft, while the team addressed the defense on Day 2.
What will Day 3 bring?
The Colts had the following picks entering the third and final day of the draft:
- Round 4: Pick 15 (117 Overall)
- Round 5: Pick 14 (151 Overall)
- Round 6: Pick 13 (189 Overall)
- Round 7: Pick 16 (232 Overall)
The Colts’ positions of need include linebacker and offensive line (especially right guard). The team could also use another running back and general manager Chris Ballard seldom hesitates to add a defensive lineman or defensive back.
Round 4
In Round 4, the Colts moved down from the 117th overall spot after working a trade with the Los Angeles Rams. They moved back ten spots to 127th overall.
The Colts also picked up a sixth-round selection (190th overall) in the deal. The Rams used the pick on Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter.
Draft day trades are nothing new to Ballard–he’s worked more than 20 of them as Colts general manager.
With the 127th overall pick, the Colts selected Iowa State tackle Jalen Travis.
Travis is a very large man–6’8″ and 339 pounds–giving him tremendous length that is both a positive and a negative for his position. He was a three-year starter at tackle.
His NFL.com draft profile pegged him as a fifth- or sixth-rounder:
Tall, three-year starting tackle with proportional mass and length. Like most taller tackles, Travis has some athletic limitations in tight quarters and anchor concerns if he doesn’t drop his pad level. Average foot quickness is covered up a bit by an effective use of length. He has some pop on down blocks but will struggle as a man blocker due to his lack of leverage and sloppy hand placement. He’s tough on rushers when he punches with timing but is slightly below average with his mirror consistency and twist pickup. Travis has potential but the ceiling will be limited for him as he competes for a role as a swing tackle.
Ballard has always believed in having strong offensive and defensive lines and frequently drafts for depth in those positions. The team needs additional talent on the offensive line after center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries left for Minnesota in free agency. The best fit for Travis may be as a swing tackle for the Colts, a position the team often seeks in the draft.
Travis’ collegiate career started at Princeton. He transferred to Iowa State for his final season, where he was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. Travis allowed one sack and 12 total pressures in 475 pass blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
He graduated from Princeton with a degree in anthropology, with a concentration in law, politics and economics. He received a certificate in African American studies from Princeton and a graduate certificate in social justice from Iowa State.
Round 5
With the 151st overall pick, the Colts took DJ Giddens, a running back from Kansas State.
Colts player Kenny Moore II and former Colts player Bjoern Werner made the announcement from Berlin, Germany, where the Colts will play a regular-season game in 2025.
Giddens ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. A productive player at KSU, he was a Second-Team All-Big 12 Selection. He led the Wildcats with 1,343 rushing yards (205 carries) and was tied for the team lead with 7 rushing TDs. He caught 21 passes for 258 yards (12.3 yards/catch) and a touchdown.
The 6’0″, 212-pound prospect ranked eighth in the FBS with a school-record 6.55 yards per carry. He’s considered a workhorse with some breakaway speed who can contribute in the passing game. He needs some work in pass protection, according to the scouting report.
During a post-draft interview, Giddens said he suffered a wrist injury that required offseason surgery. He believes that affected his pass protection and is confident the procedure with allow him to clean up that aspect of his game.
His draft profile on NFL.com projected him as a fifth- or sixth-round selection:
A productive runner with good size, Giddens lacks explosive elements in his game. He defies expectations as a big back who doesn’t run with heavy power. He’s a long-strider with wiggle between the tackles. He’s patient behind his blocks and quickly processes run-lane development. He’s not sudden and lacks the burst to outflank defenses, so running behind his pads and picking up the tough yardage inside might have to be his ticket into a rotation.
Giddens joins a running back room that includes Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Goodson and Khalil Herbert, a key offseason free agent acquisition.
Round 6
The Colts had two chances to add some depth in the sixth round, thanks to a trade they pulled off in the fourth round. The result: Indy received back-to-back picks (189th and 190th overall) in the draft’s penultimate round.
They used their first pick of the sixth round to select Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, who led the Fighting Irish to the national championship game. Leonard’s college career started at Duke. He transferred to Notre Dame for his final season.
Leonard is a dual-threat quarterback with exceptional running skills. He still needs development as a pro-level passer. Still, his experience and grit are rare traits that could prove useful for the Colts.
During his single season in South Bend, Riley threw for 2,861 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He ran 184 times for 906 yards and finished with an eye-popping 17 rushing touchdowns.
The Colts attended his Pro Day and Leonard was a Senior Bowl participant.
From his NFL.com draft profile:
Leonard has adequate size and is an above-average competitor with good toughness. However, he fails to hit the mark as a pro-caliber passer. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who falls more firmly on the side of grit than gifted. He can make controlled throws inside his comfort level, but his accuracy and timing dip when he has to work beyond primary reads. He’s relatively careful with the football in the red area and in the face of pressure. He can move the sticks with his legs on called runs or when pressured. Leonard is average as a field-reader and doesn’t have enough arm to beat NFL defenders on seam throws or outside the numbers. He needs a solid running game and advantages at the skill positions to function on a pro level, but even then his play might be more dependent on his legs than his eyes and arm.
Leonard enters a quarterback room featuring Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones. Leonard said during his post-draft interview that both quarterbacks had already reached out to him.
“There’s no place I’d rather be than back in Indiana,” Riley told reporters via Zoom.
With the very next pick, the Colts took Alabama defensive tackle Tim Smith.
At 6’4″ and 302 pounds, Smith was a three-year starter at Alabama whose strength is in stopping the run. He could be a key rotational piece for the defense, but he has some limitations as a pass rusher.
From his NFL.com draft profile:
Hard hat defensive tackle who is much more of a plugger than a playmaker. Smith has average size and traits, but he thumps blockers with accurate strikes and anchors down to clog lanes. He can set a firm edge or control the block as a two-gapper but a lack of length could catch up with him as a pro. He has enough power to get into the pocket on occasion, but he might need scheme help to get home as a rusher. Smith plays with pretty good power and sound technique. He could become a rotational defender in the NFL.
Smith joins an interior defensive line group that includes DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Adetomiwa Adebawore and veteran Neville Gallimore, one of Indy’s free agent acquisitions.