Day 2 targets for the Colts in the NFL draft at linebacker, edge, receiver

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:

Colts' Day 2 options at edge rusher>>T.J. Parker (Clemson): The 21-year-old Clemson standout saw his production drop in his junior season – picking up just five sacks after 11 in 2024 and zero forced fumbles after a half-dozen – but his frame, at 6-foot-3, 263 pounds and arms measured just more than 33 inches fit the prototype of a big-bodied pass rusher the Colts seem to crave. His combination of power, motor and experience would make him the best profile of a Week 1 starter.

>>>Zion Young (Missouri): The two-year starter at Missouri finished No. 2 in the SEC in tackles for loss (16.5) and No. 3 in pressures (53) in 2025, but his strengths don’t necessarily lie in rushing the passer, with a lack of speed that might make him a lesser fit for the “fastball” Ballard craves. Still, his 6-foot-5, 262-pound frame with 33-inch arms would make him hard to pass up if he’s still around at No. 47.

>>>Cashius Howell (Texas A&M): The Texas A&M prospect lit up the stat sheet in 2025 with an SEC-best 11 sacks as the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. But the 23-year-old measuring in at just 6-foot-2 and 253 pounds with arms just a tick over 30 inches could make his measurables a deal-breaker in Indianapolis, where large, long-armed edge rushers typically win out.

>>>R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma): Like Howell, Thomas being an undersized edge rusher could eliminate him from consideration, but the two-year starter at Oklahoma averaged 2.7 QB pressures per game the last two seasons, and his explosiveness is impossible to miss.

>>>Gabe Jacas (Illinois): The four-year Illinois starter led the Big 10 with 11 sacks this fall, and his 6-foot-3 frame at 260 pounds and 33-inch arms with his strength and violent quick moves as his strengths make him a solid option to consider if he’s still around at No. 47 for Indianapolis.

Colts' Day 2 options at linebacker>>Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech): The quarterback-turned do-everything linebacker rose from a walk-on at Texas Tech into one of the top linebacker prospects in this draft. His All-American season in 2025 included 11 tackles for a loss, seven forced fumbles, six passes defended, four interceptions and one sack, elevating him to finish fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He lacks size (6-foot-1, 231 pounds) and length (arms under 31 inches), but makes up for that in sideline-to-sideline speed and a knack for finding the football.

>>>CJ Allen (Georgia): The two-plus-year starter at Georgia is a bit undersized at 230 pounds and just a tick above 6-feet, but his speed, instincts and tackle production give him plug-and-play Week 1 rookie starting potential. He does come with average-at-best abilities in pass coverage, which proved to be the Colts’ Achilles heel at the second level a year ago and could count against him.

>>>Jake Golday (Cincinnati): The Cincinnati prospect is a bit unrefined, but he has the makings of a project who could make an immediate impact on special teams and evolve into a real difference maker at linebacker – perhaps still as a rookie. The former defensive end is physical, fast and excels in open space as a tackler.

>>>Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas): The former five-star recruit who started at Texas for two-and-a-half years may be the best prototypical option at linebacker for the Colts on Day 2 with size and speed that would seem a better than solid fit for the Colts’ system. He brings the three-down starting potential Indianapolis needs with such a slim group at linebacker at the moment, with his dip in production this past season – 16.5 tackles for a loss down to 7 and eight sacks down to four – maybe the only major question mark.

>>>Josiah Trotter (Missouri): The one-year starter at Missouri brings the pedigree of an All-Pro linebacker father, Jeremiah, and profiles as a work-in-progress at just 21 years old. His instincts and power are his strengths – particularly against the run – but his capabilities in coverage leave something to be desired. If the Colts opt for an edge rusher in Round 2, Trotter could be the type of player still available in Round 3.

Colts' Day 2 options at defensive back, wide receiver>>D’Angelo Ponds (IU DB): With the Colts looking to move off veteran slot corner Kenny Moore II, Ponds could be the type of value pick in Round 2 that Indianapolis could shift gears and consider if the first-half of the round features runs on edge rusher and linebacker. His size – he measured sub-5-foot-9 at the NFL Combine – could be a dealbreaker for some, but his speed, instincts and grit will make him a great pick-up for whoever takes him. The Colts are plenty set on the outside, but Ponds could make for a great fit in place of Kenny Moore, though many believe second-year corner Justin Walley is primed to take over that position.

>>>Malachi Fields (Notre Dame WR): The Notre Dame receiver has gotten Michael Pittman Jr. comparisons even outside of Colts circles, which would seem to make him an immediate consideration for Indianapolis. At 6-foot-4, 218 pounds, he’s a large target for whoever takes him Friday, but with just 4.61 40 speed, he may not quite be what the Colts are looking for as the retool their receiver room.

>>>De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss WR): The Ole Miss product’s size, speed and physicality instantly makes him seem an odds-on contender to fill Michael Pittman Jr.’s role as a do-everything receiver in the Colts system, without the need to carry the team. Head coach Shane Steichen made a point to mention Tuesday his desire to seek out receivers who can separate out of breaks, and Stribling’s acceleration, shiftiness and sure hands make him an ideal player who could streak down the boundaries and catch balls over the middle, too.

>>>Elijah Sarratt (IU WR): The IU star made highlight-reel catches with the Hoosiers and profiles as a possession receiver who doesn’t nearly have elite speed but could make up for it elsewhere. The Colts are interested in giving Josh Downs more opportunities on the outside with the loss of Pittman, and Sarratt could spend time as a big slot at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds.

>>>Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina S): If the Colts find themselves out of the market for a linebacker, edge rusher or receiver in Round 3, safety would seem to be an option. The South Carolina product comes into the league as a high-risk, high-reward safety option who defended 10 passes and made two interceptions in 2025 – finishing with 21 and eight, respectively, in three years. His skills are a bit inconsistent, but if the long-armed, big and physical safety can get time to develop, he could be the type of player who could blossom in Year 2 or 3 for whoever picks him up.

>Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.

>This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts draft targets for Day 2 at linebacker, edge, receiver, safety