The 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone. Overall, the Indianapolis Colts made eight selections. What grades should each pick receive?
Indianapolis owned the 14th overall pick in the first round. Most mock drafts had them taking either Penn State’s Tyler Warren or fellow tight end Colston Loveland of Michigan.
And those mock drafts got it right. The Colts wound up drafting Warren. Surprisingly, Loveland was taken before Warren as he went to the Chicago Bears 10th overall.
Of course, Warren wasn’t the only player the Colts drafted. The team took seven other players. Here are the grades for each pick.
Indianapolis Colts 2025 NFL Draft Grades
Round 1, No. 14: Penn State TE Tyler Warren
Colts general manager Chris Ballard has been criticized a lot over the years. However, he made most fans excited with the Warren selection. The team was in desperate need of a playmaking tight end. And that’s exactly what Warren is. He’ll give whoever wins the Colts starting quarterback job (Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones) an offensive weapon to work with.
Grade: A+
Round 2, No. 45: Ohio State DE J.T. Tuimoloau
After taking Warren, the Colts went the defensive route in the second round, drafting J.T. Tuimoloau. The defensive end helped Ohio State win a national championship last season. He’s relentless, plays hard, is quick, and can make plays in the backfield. Tuimoloau gets his hands up in passing lanes and has the versatility to keep opposing tackles in balance.
Grade: B
Round 3, No. 80: Minnesota CB Justin Walley
The Colts added to their secondary by drafting Minnesota cornerback Justin Walley. He had 155 tackles, 27 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles during his career at Minnesota. Last season, opposing quarterbacks had a 54.0 passer rating when targeting Walley in coverage, per Pro Football Focus. However, he was projected to be a sixth-round pick. He’ll join a cornerback room in Indy that includes guys like Charvarius Ward, Kenny Moore II, and Jaylon Jones.
Grade: C
Round 4, No. 127: Iowa State OT Jalen Travis
The Colts traded the 117th pick to the Los Angeles Rams for picks 127 and 190. With the 127th pick, Indianapolis took Iowa State tackle Jalen Travis. At 6’8” and 340 pounds, he’s an extremely massive offensive lineman. He will look to fill a hole up front for the Colts offense. Travis has elite athleticism and loads of natural strength.
Grade: B
Round 5, No. 151: Kansas State RB D.J. Giddens
Indianapolis has Jonathan Taylor, who is easily one of the NFL’s best running backs. The team signed his primary backup, Khalil Herbert this offseason. However, they still needed to add another running back. Therefore, the Colts drafted Kansas State’s D.J. Giddens in the fifth round. In 2024, he rushed for a career-high 1,343 yards with seven touchdowns.
Grade: A-
Round 6, No. 189: Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard
The Colts already have Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones, and Jason Bean. Yet, the team took fellow quarterback Riley Leonard in the sixth round. Starring at Notre Dame, Leonard knows a thing or two about playing in Indiana. Now, he’ll take his talents from South Bend to Indianapolis. He will compete with Bean for the No. 3 quarterback spot.
Grade: B+
Round 6, No. 190: Alabama DT Tim Smith
Indy added to the interior of their defensive line by selecting Tim Smith in the sixth round. The defensive tackle out of Alabama played 64 games over five seasons. During his time with the Crimson Tide, he recorded 14.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks.
Grade: B-
Round 7, No. 232: Wisconsin S Hunter Wohler
Wisconsin’s Hunter Wohler was the Colts’ final selection of the draft. While he played safety in college, he’s expected to switch to linebacker as a professional. He’ll likely be a special teams contributor. Wohler was named third-team All-Big Ten in 2023 and was an honorable mention last season.
Grade: B
Main Image: Clark Wade – USA Today Sports
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