INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard made it clear in January he was going to make the defense younger and faster.
He delivered on that promise repeatedly during the three-day NFL draft.
Indy beefed up its thinnest position by using two of its first four picks on linebackers then added a hard-hitting, playmaking safety and a speedy edge rusher as the next steps in what has become a a major offseason overhaul.
Now the Colts will see how it all fits, starting with top selection CJ Allen of Georgia who is expected to be an immediate starter at middle linebacker.
“One of the good things about the system he’s coming from (Georgia) is they put a lot on the (middle linebacker), a lot of adjustments,” Ballard said of the first team All-American after making his first selection at No. 53 overall Friday. “So we think he’s going to be able to handle (the transition) pretty well. We spent a lot of time — I know, (James) Bettcher, our linebackers coach, I know he grilled him pretty hard and came across raving about his IQ”
The 21-year-old Allen ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash and called defensive plays each of the past two seasons at Georgia, making him an ideal match to replace 29-year-old Zaire Franklin, a former team captain who was traded to Green Bay in March after his fourth straight 100-tackle season.
Indy's second pick, A.J. Haulcy of LSU, also fit the mold. The 6-foot, 222-pound safety was clocked at 4.52 seconds in the 40 at the scouting combine and earned all-conference honors at three different colleges.
“A.J. is interesting,” Ballard said. "What I love the most is — especially in the transfer world — he goes to New Mexico, starts, goes to Houston, starts, goes to LSU, starts. Takes the ball away. He’s physical. No, he’s going to be a good addition. We think we got younger and faster on defense.”
Indy's most intriguing pick might be the selection of Bryce Boettcher from Oregon. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound middle linebacker was taken in the fourth round, No. 135 overall, and it wasn't the first time he was drafted.
Boettcher was a 13th-round pick of the Houston Astros in the 2024 Major League Baseball draft but turned down the chance to pursue a baseball career to continue playing football. He wound up leading all Power 4 players with 131 tackles last season.
"There’s no better feeling than inflicting pain on someone legally,” he said while explaining why he bypassed a baseball career.
Boettcher noted, his position coach with the Colts pronounces his last name the same way — “Bet-cher” — despite the different spellings.
Ballard also used the first of his two fourth-round picks on guard Jalen Farmer. Indy listed the 6-5, 312-pound offensive linemen from Kentucky as a guard, though some draft analysts think his long body and arms could help him play tackle in the NFL.
He's likely to start out playing multiple positions after Indy lost versatile backup lineman Danny Pinter in free agency.
Indy closed out the draft by selecting Caden Curry of Ohio State in the sixth round, a 6-3, 257-pound defensive end who played high school football in suburban Indianapolis and former Purdue receiver Deion Burks in the seventh round. Burks finished his career at Oklahoma.
“I feel like this is the next step in my career and I can't wait to do it in the city I grew up,” Curry said, wearing a Peyton Manning Super Bowl jersey. “We're just happy to be here and happy to be so close to home.”
Indy also took George Gumbs Jr., who started his career as a walk-on receiver at Northern Illinois before moving to tight end before eventually finding a home — and earning a scholarship — at defensive end. He finished career at Florida and was taken No. 156 overall.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
FILE - Georgia linebacker CJ Allen (01) speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Instead of moving back with their first pick in the NFL draft, the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks elected to fill their most pressing need.
The Seahawks were open to trading their first-round selection for more picks since they entered the draft with only four, their fewest since 2021. But president of football operations John Schneider held onto the 32nd overall pick and used it on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price.
The Seahawks lost running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III when he signed a free-agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Price fit the bill of what Schneider was looking for to bolster Seattle’s backfield.
“Kind of stood alone. Great player,” Schneider said. “The person is outstanding. The competitor. He’s a Seahawk.”
While Price headlined Seattle’s draft class, the Seahawks filled other holes on their young and talented roster. They ended up with eight picks, thanks to trades with Pittsburgh, Cleveland, the New York Jets and Green Bay.
The Seahawks took safety Bud Clark of TCU in the second round. The versatile Clark played safety, nickel back and cornerback for the Horned Frogs and was twice named a second-team All-Big 12 selection.
The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Clark had 15 interceptions over four seasons. He models his game after Seahawks great Kam Chancellor.
“He always brought the pop, and I feel like he was the hammer, not the nail,” Clark said. “That’s what I try to do all the time I play.”
Clark is eager to join a defense that lost a few key contributors from one of the best units in the NFL last year. The Bears signed safety Coby Bryant to a three-year, $40 million contract in March.
“I feel like it’s a lot of shoes to fill, but I honestly feel like I can fill those shoes and make them bigger,” Clark said. “That’s what I’m trying to do. Especially with (coach Mike) Macdonald, I feel like that’s the best defensive coach in the NFL. Why not?”
Macdonald brushed off any notion of Clark being brought in as a straight-up replacement for Bryant. He said the Seahawks don’t view the draft process that way and that Clark will play multiple positions.
“We’ll figure that out kind of as we go and how the team kind of shapes up,” Macdonald said, “but we got some really great players at safety too that are going to compete. Ty Okada helped win us a lot of games last year. Rodney Thomas is a guy that we’re really high on. A lot of guys. So it’s going to be a lot of great competition.”
The Seahawks parted ways with one outspoken cornerback via free agency in Riq Woolen, who agreed to a deal with Philadelphia in March. They added another in the draft, when they selected cornerback Julian Neal of Arkansas in the third round.
Neal proclaimed the Seahawks will go “back to back” in 2026 and secure the franchise's third Super Bowl title before explaining why he believes he is the most physical cornerback in the draft.
“I use my arms to my advantage. I use my length,” Neal said. “I use my availability. I’ve never gotten hurt, I’ve never missed a game in college from being hurt. I come down (and) I hit something. I’m going to go up and get the ball.”
Schneider was a bit surprised by how outgoing Neal was with reporters during a post-draft conference call. In the Seahawks’ pre-draft scouting process, they found Neal to be confident but quiet.
Neal had four interceptions, 17 passes defended and 61 tackles in his four-year collegiate career.
“I think there’s clearly a competitor and a confidence in there,” Macdonald said. “Takes a lot of pride in how physical he is at the corner position. He’s played safety as well.”
The Seahawks bolstered their offensive line last spring when they drafted Grey Zabel, who started every regular-season game at left guard. They added to their depth on Saturday by trading up to select guard Beau Stephens of Iowa in the fifth round.
Stephens was a first-team All-American. In Seattle, he will join former college teammate Mason Richman, a seventh-round selection last year.
“When he was back down training in Iowa City, he was telling me how cool it was and (how) cool (offensive line coach John) Benton was,” Stephens said. “We’re going to be friends for life, so it’s just awesome to have a guy who’s going to be there at my wedding this summer, to have him around. He was kind of a big brother for me in college.”
Stephens started 35 of 43 games in college, 10 at right guard and 25 at left guard. He looks forward to operating within Seattle’s run-blocking scheme, though it is unclear what position he'll play.
For the second straight season and third time in four years, the Seahawks selected a wide receiver, this time taking Emmanuel Henderson Jr. of Kansas in the sixth round.
Henderson started his collegiate career at Alabama before joining the Jayhawks, for whom he was a third-team all Big-12 selection as a wide receiver and first-team pick as a return specialist.
“Special teams is a big part of my game (along) with my wide receiver ability,” Henderson said. “It’s a great combo for them to have.”
Henderson led the Jayhawks in receiving yards last season with 766, and tied for the team lead with 45 receptions and five touchdowns. He joins a receiver room headlined by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the AP Offensive Player of the Year.
Henderson provides some insurance and depth in the return game for the Seahawks, who also have wide receiver Rashid Shaheed and Tory Horton, who is out with a shin injury he sustained as a rookie.
The Seahawks made three picks in the seventh round, acquiring cornerback Andre Fuller of Toledo, defensive tackle Deven Eastern of Minnesota and cornerback Michael Dansby of Arizona.
The Seahawks addressed their most pressing needs except at edge rusher. Boye Mafe, who had 20 sacks in four seasons for Seattle, signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency, and the Seahawks did not find an immediate replacement in the draft.
Schneider said the Seahawks may add a player via free agency on Monday. Macdonald pointed to a number of players already on the roster who could replace Mafe’s production, including linebackers Jared Ivey, Jamie Sheriff, Connor O’Toole and Jalan Gaines.
“We’re really excited about those guys,” Macdonald said.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
FILE - Arkansas defensive back Julian Neal answers questions during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay,File)
FILE - Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price (15) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, on Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
FILE - Iowa offensive lineman Beau Stephens (48) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy,File)
FILE - TCU defensive back Bud Clark (33) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez,File)
