Chad Reuter’s latest seven-round mock draft for NFL.com takes a different kind of swing: only current NFL players, with every team built to win now. For the Indianapolis Colts, that setup produced a haul with pass-rush punch, a familiar quarterback, and several names that already look right at home in the roster conversation.
The Colts opened at No. 16 overall and came away with DE Will Anderson, one of the league’s most disruptive edge threats. Anderson cleared the 100-pressure mark last season, and Reuter made clear why he’d be such a strong anchor piece for Indianapolis.
What Reuter said:"Anderson has become one of the top defenders in the league, a true building block to construct a roster around."
At No. 51, the Colts turned to QB Daniel Jones, giving Indianapolis a familiar face under center. Reuter noted that quarterbacks flew off the board early in this mock, and the Colts are counting on Jones and the offense to pick up where last season’s first-half surge left off.
What Reuter said:"The Colts were on an upward trajectory last season before Jones suffered a torn Achilles. He's aiming to be ready by Week 1 of this season."
The third-round pick brought another weapon into the mix with WR Drake London at No. 78. London has stayed productive through four seasons with the Falcons despite uneven quarterback play, and he posted almost 1,300 yards in 2024.
What Reuter said:"Boasting the ability to box out slot defenders and get the better of outside corners, London is a worthy pick at No. 78 overall."
Indianapolis then added CB Sauce Gardner at No. 113, giving the Colts another current player they’ve already had in the building. A calf injury limited Gardner to four games in a Colts uniform, but in that stretch he allowed a 54% completion rate, gave up 7.3 yards per catch, and broke up three passes. That kind of presence, as the piece notes, would give Lou Anarumo more freedom to attack.
What Reuter said:"Like with the selection of Daniel Jones in Round 2, the Colts take another player whom they acquired in real life last year."
The run on familiar names continued in Round 5 with G Tyler Smith at No. 144.
With Quenton Nelson long gone, Smith steps into the guard spot in this mock. He gave up three sacks and 26 pressures last season, but he also graded highly in the run game.
What Reuter said:"Smith's cut down on his penalties over the past two seasons, trusting his strength, agility and footwork to create space for ball-carriers."
At No. 179, the Colts went with LB Sonny Styles, who was the seventh overall pick in this past April’s draft by Washington. Styles can cover ground in the middle of the field and bring heat on the quarterback when needed.
What Reuter said:"The Colts plug Styles into the middle of their defense, as the rookie and NFL legacy naturally knows how to stop run plays and chase down ball-carriers on the edge."
Indianapolis closed the mock with RB TreVeyon Henderson at No. 206. As a rookie for New England, Henderson ran for 987 yards and nine touchdowns, while also catching 40 of 47 targets and finishing with 1,132 yards from scrimmage.
What Reuter said:"Henderson is on his way to becoming one of the NFL's top rushing/receiving backs after he contributed 1,132 yards from scrimmage as a rookie for New England."
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PFFs latest look at the Colts defense offers a useful snapshot of where the unit stands heading into 2025, and it lines up with the bigger question hanging over the roster all offseason: can a group that allowed 24.2 points per game and finished 21st in the league take a meaningful step forward? The front office has tried to answer that by getting younger and faster, and the projected starting lineup now has a mix of proven veterans and players still trying to establish themselves in bigger roles.
The grades suggest the Colts have a few clear building blocks, with some starters standing out as quality pieces and others still searching for steadier production. There is also an injury wrinkle in the mix, which only adds to the uncertainty around how this defense will actually look once the season gets going, and whether the roster changes were enough to push the unit closer to the level Indianapolis needs. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Were Handed A Dream Win-Now Draft Colts Fans Will Debate
NFL.coms hypothetical seven-round redraft handed Indianapolis a kind of wish-list scenario, one that invites Colts fans to argue over both the ceiling and the realism of the haul. In the exercise, the Colts came away with a stacked mix of talent across the board, highlighted by an edge rusher in Will Anderson Jr. and a few other names that would instantly change the tone of the roster.
The fun for Colts followers is in the fit as much as the star power, because the mock puts real help around the lineup in places that have been easy to talk about for a while. Drake London would give Indianapolis a legitimate top target, Sauce Gardner would be back in the fold in a way that makes the secondary look far different, and even the later-round choices point to a team that would be trying to win now rather than think several seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Why This Colts Rookie Keeps Coming Up In Anarumo's Defense
Bryce Boettchers path to the Colts has been anything but ordinary. Drafted with the 135th pick, the rookie linebacker arrives with the kind of toughness and competitive streak Indianapolis likes to tout, plus a rare versatility that could let him handle either MIKE or WILL in Lou Anarumos defense. It is the sort of profile that stands out even before a player takes a meaningful NFL snap, especially for a team still sorting out how its young linebackers fit together.
Boettcher also brings a background that makes him easy to notice in a room full of rookies. Before football became the clearer lane, he was drafted by the Astros and walked on at Oregon in both baseball and football, a route that helped shape the passion for the game Colts scout Kasia Omilan pointed to when discussing his fit. Even in the spring, when he spent most of his time with the second unit and only briefly mixed in with the starters, Boettcher kept showing up for the same reasons that got him here in the first place. [Read more 🡒]