The Colts’ long-term edge-rush question is already taking shape on the 2027 board, and the case for the position is pretty straightforward: Laiatu Latu needs help.
Arden Key, Caden Curry, George Gumbs Jr., Jaylahn Tuimoloau, and Micheal Clemons might not give Indianapolis the kind of steady pressure it needs opposite Latu. Even if the Colts bring in a veteran free-agent pass rusher in 2026, that move would likely only be a one-year fix. The bigger need is still out there - a real answer for the future.
That matters even more because the Colts have poured resources into the secondary. And as the old football rule goes, the best friend a defensive backfield can have is a pass rush that gets home. That’s why quick-win edge rushers figure to stay high on the priority list.
The early board is loaded. Colin Simmons of Texas and Dylan Stewart of South Carolina both carry Round 1 grades.
Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei and Arkansas’ Quincy Rhodes sit in the Round 1-2 range. After that, the second tier is crowded with names like Princewill Umanmielen of LSU, Kenyatta Jackson of Ohio State, Damon Wilson Jr. of Miami, John Henry Daley of Michigan, Jordan Ross of LSU, and Clev Lubin of Louisville, all with Round 2 or Round 2-3 grades.
That depth could matter a lot for Indianapolis. With so many edge rushers carrying top-50 type grades early in the process, there’s a real chance one or more of the best 10 ends up available when the Colts are on the clock in Round 2.
Kenyatta Jackson is the cleanest fit if Indianapolis wants to keep leaning into the Ohio State pipeline. The Colts have taken a number of Buckeye defensive ends over the years, including Tyquan Lewis, Jaylahn Tuimoloau, and Caden Curry, so there’s precedent there if Jackson slips.
He’s a big power rusher who plays with heavy hands, sets a firm edge, and uses his length well. The next step is expanding his rush plan and getting more fluid as an athlete.
If that happens, his stock could climb fast. Even now, he’s already a productive Big Ten rusher who finished 2025 strong.
For a more explosive profile, Damon Wilson Jr. and Clev Lubin stand out. Both have strong pass-rush production and the kind of first-step burst that can stress tackles right away. If the Colts are hunting speed off the edge in Round 2, those are two names that make sense.
Anto Saka brings a similar type of appeal, even though he’s still raw in his pass-rush moves and not yet a reliable edge setter on film. The former Northwestern edge rusher is now at Texas A&M and is a true Feldman Freak athlete. His motor and physical tools are intriguing enough that a jump in development could push him up boards.
If Indianapolis prefers a more power-based approach, Boubacar Traore of Notre Dame and Teitum Tuioti of Oregon could be there on Day 2. Will Heldt, the Carmel High School alum now at Clemson, is another power rusher to keep in mind. At 6-foot-7 and a reported 260 pounds, he could eventually add more bulk and even slide inside more often this season or at the next level.
Big picture, this looks like a strong edge class. More than 15 players already have Round 1-3 grades in early summer scouting, and the group offers a real mix of body types and pass-rush styles.
That gives the Colts a good chance of finding a rusher who matches both their needs and their board when Round 2 comes around in 2027. There’s still a full season to go before the final grades settle in, but this is the kind of class that can get a draft evaluator’s attention fast.
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Haulcy is still working back from an ankle injury and has not practiced recently, while Allen has returned from injury but has not locked down a first-team job. General manager Chris Ballard said Haulcy is progressing, though he would not put a timetable on his return, which leaves the Colts sorting through other options such as Hunter Wohler, Akeen Davis-Gaither and Jaylon Carlies as the opener gets closer. [Read more 🡒]