INDIANAPOLIS -- As he stood up to leave the podium of the Colts media room Monday afternoon, general manager Chris Ballard told reporters, ‘See you Friday.’
For months now, Indianapolis’ NFL Draft has been realistically slated to start with Friday’s second round, where the franchise is set to make the 47th-overall pick after trading away No. 16 (along with next year’s first-rounder and AD Mitchell) to the Jets for All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner.
For a team with several starting slots still up for grabs – including at defensive end, both linebacker spots, strong safety and wide receiver No. 3 – not having a first-round pick puts all the more pressure on that second-round selection to land a Week 1-ready rookie.
Will enough high-level edge prospects fall far enough to Ballard & Co. to find the potential heir-apparent to start opposite Laiatu Latu? Could the Colts make a move to select their new MIKE linebacker in place of now-Packer Zaire Franklin? Will too many players at both positions get snatched up to force Indianapolis to look at the best player on the board and draft star IU cornerback prospect D’Angelo Ponds?
Here’s a look at 15 potential targets for the Colts to consider entering Day 2 of the draft, with Indianapolis owning picks Nos. 47 and 78:
Tight end Tyler Warren of Penn State was selected 14th overall in the 2025 NFL draft.
Defensive end Laiatu Latu of UCLA was selected 15th overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson of Florida was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
Defensive end Kwity Paye of Michigan was selected 21st overall in the 2022 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett of Miami was selected 29th overall in the 2015 NFL draft.
Defensive end Bjoern Werner of Florida State was selected 24th overall in the 2013 NFL draft.
Offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo of Boston College was selected 22nd overall in the 2011 NFL draft.
Running back Donald Brown of Connecticut was selected 27th overall in the 2009 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio State was selected 32nd overall in the 2007 NFL draft.
Defensive end Dwight Freeney of Syracuse was selected 11th overall in the 2002 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Reggie Wayne of Miami was selected 30th overall in the 2001 NFL draft.
Quarterback Peyton Manning of Tennessee was selected first overall in the 1998 NFL draft.
Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn of California was selected 19th overall in the 1997 NFL draft.
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison of Syracuse was selected 19th overall in the 1996 NFL draft.
Defensive tackle Ellis Johnson of Florida was selected 15th overall in the 1995 NFL draft.