Indianapolis Colts rookie safety A.J. Haulcy is already pushing his way into the conversation for a major defensive role, and ESPN thinks he’s one of the league’s more interesting first-year names to keep an eye on.
In ESPN’s 2026 NFL rookie guide, draft analyst Matt Bowen slotted Haulcy at No. 5 on his list of five under-the-radar rookies to watch. Bowen pointed to the traits that made the Colts take him in the third round, writing, "On his college tape at LSU, the third-rounder displayed the top-down speed and ball skills to impact the middle of the field (10 career interceptions). And he is an urgent run defender."
That evaluation lines up with what Haulcy did in college. Indianapolis grabbed him with the No. 78 overall pick in April after a winding college path that took him from New Mexico to Houston and then LSU.
Haulcy’s final season at LSU gave the Colts plenty to like. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2025 after piling up 88 tackles, three interceptions, four passes defensed and a forced fumble in 12 games. Over his last two college seasons, he came away with eight interceptions.
He also moved quickly into the mix for the Colts’ starting strong safety job. During the preseason, ESPN reported that Indianapolis had been impressed by his football acumen and that he was in line to fill the vacancy at the position.
With the Colts counting on several young defenders in 2026, Haulcy’s ability to create turnovers could make him one of the most important pieces in that group.
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