'Ideal haul' for Colts in 3-round 2025 NFL draft

‘Ideal haul’ for Colts in 3-round 2025 NFL draft

Posted by author March 2, 2025 Sports

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In the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL draft, what does the “ideal haul” look like for the Indianapolis Colts?

Pro Football Focus recently highlighted what that would look like for each team. And no surprise when it comes to the Colts, in the first round they land tight end Tyler Warren from Penn State.

Warren is a very, very popular pick for the Colts in mock drafts and it’s easy to see why. The Colts need a much greater passing game presence at the position, which he can provide after eclipsing 1,200 receiving yards last season. But in addition to that, Warren is versatile and a very capable blocker. You put that do-it-all type of skill set into an offense and there’s a different dimension that’s added to it, specifically some unpredictability.

In the second round, the Colts landed UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger. Depth is a need at linebacker for the Colts, but more importantly, they need to find a starter to line up next to Zaire Franklin, assuming EJ Speed ends up elsewhere as a free agent. Ideally, the Colts find a greater coverage presence at the position as well.

Perhaps Jaylon Carlies can fill this role, but as GM Chris Ballard looks to add competition throughout the roster, that shouldn’t be assumed either. It’s that line of thinking that has the Colts in their current roster predicament.

Schwesinger was a very reliable tackler, making 133 of his 144 attempts last season. In coverage, he allowed a completion rate of 77% at 9.4 yards per catch with two interceptions and two pass breakups.

Lastly, with their third-round pick, the Colts drafted defensive end Jordan Burch from Oregon. The defensive line as a whole is an under-the-radar need for Indianapolis. At defensive end specifically, the level of need here is dependent upon what happens in free agency. Does Dayo Odeyingbo sign elsewhere in free agency? Is Samson Ebukam a potential cut candidate?

Burch has had steady production the last three seasons, averaging 33 pressures per year during that span, along with grading out well as a run defender by PFF’s metrics.

“Indianapolis will venture into the 2025 season with multiple long-term questions to answer, both at quarterback and the executive level,” wrote PFF. “The bottom line for Chris Ballard is that it’s time to add more depth and skill at positions that have merely been adequate.”