NFL Draft Notebook: Colts bolster defense in 7-round NFL Mock Draft

The Indianapolis Colts came up just short of making the playoffs in 2024, but with a strong showing in the 2025 NFL Draft, they have a realistic chance to contend for the AFC South crown next season. Improving their defense, which gave up an average of 25 points per game, will be a top priority. This seven-round mock draft focuses on reinforcing their defensive unit, beginning with the selection of the draft’s best safety in the first round.

In addition to exploring the Colts’ draft plans, today’s NFL Draft Notebook highlights three standout rookies, a linebacker drawing interest from the Bears, and a quarterback the Raiders are reportedly targeting.

Colts 7-round NFL Mock Draft

Round 1, Pick 14: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

The Colts’ most pressing need is bolstering their secondary, which ranked in the bottom six in categories like completion percentage and passing yards allowed. While Indianapolis would love to land top cornerbacks Travis Hunter (Colorado) or Will Johnson (Michigan), both are expected to be off the board by the time they pick. Instead, they select Malaki Starks, the top safety in the draft. Starks provides an instant upgrade over Julian Blackmon, offering elite athleticism and playmaking ability.

Round 2, Pick 45: Jonah Savaiinaea, OG, Arizona

Indianapolis will likely address its offensive line on Day 2 of the draft, especially with Ryan Kelly and Will Fries entering free agency and Fries coming off a broken tibia. Jonah Savaiinaea from Arizona would be an excellent value pick in the second round. Known for his combination of size and speed Savaiinaea was rated by Pro Football Focus as the offensive lineman with the best footwork entering the 2024 season.

Round 3, Pick 80: Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas

While many project the Colts to prioritize tight end in the first round, a more realistic approach might be targeting the position in the third round. This year’s tight end class is deep, though none match the elite caliber of Georgia’s Brock Bowers. A smart option for Indianapolis in the third round would be Texas’ Gunnar Helm, a reliable pass-catcher who recorded 60 receptions last season. Helm would be an immediate upgrade for a tight end group that combined for just 39 catches in 2024, the lowest in the NFL. With both Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson expected to hit free agency, Helm could become a dependable weapon for quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Round 4, Pick 115: Zy Alexander, CB, LSU

The Colts continue to prioritize the secondary by drafting Zy Alexander, a big cornerback from LSU. Injuries plagued the Colts’ secondary last season, with JuJu Brents and Dallis Flowers both missing significant time. Alexander excels in coverage, earning an 82.3 grade from PFF and allowing just 44% of passes thrown his way to be completed. His physical style and strong instincts would bolster the Colts’ cornerback room.

Round 5, Pick 150: Howard Cross III, DT, Notre Dame

To add depth to their defensive line, the Colts take Howard Cross III from Notre Dame. A high-motor defensive tackle, Cross has four sacks heading into the National Championship Game. His quickness and effort would make him a valuable rotational player on the Colts’ defensive front.

Round 6, Pick 187: Cody Simon, MLB, Ohio State

The Colts could lose outside linebacker E.J. Speed in free agency, and while Zaire Franklin had a strong season, he struggled in coverage. Cody Simon from Ohio State is an underrated linebacker with excellent coverage skills and the ability to get after the quarterback, tallying seven sacks this season. Simon’s versatility would be an upgrade to Indianapolis’ linebacker corps.

Round 7, Pick 232: Damien Martinez, RB, Miami

Jonathan Taylor had a stellar season, finishing fourth in the NFL with 1,431 rushing yards. However, depth behind Taylor is a concern, as Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson have underperformed. Damien Martinez from Miami is a powerful 232-pound running back with surprising speed and agility. He would provide a solid backup option who can fill in for Taylor when needed.

Latest NFL Draft buzz

Biggest hit: One player NFL Draft Dish was higher on than most draft analysts was Oregon running back Bucky Irving, whom we identified as the running back we’d “stand on the table for” heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. To say Irving exceeded even those expectations would be an understatement. He led all rookie running backs in rushing yards (1,122), rushing touchdowns (eight), and receptions (47 catches for 392 yards). Irving is also one of just four running backs this season to surpass 1,100 rushing yards while averaging over 5.0 yards per carry—a group that features elite NFL ball carriers Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Jahmyr Gibbs.

"While Bucky Irving is on the smaller side coming in at only 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, he has the skills to develop into an NFL starter. As a runner he runs with quick feet, great vision, and surprising power for someone his size. He also is a terrific receiver who caught 53 passes last season and shows the soft hands and speed to stretch a defense in the passing game. One more positivie with him is that he can return kicks having averaged 24.6 yards per kickoff return in 2022"

NFL Draft Notebook’s predraft on Irving

Best undrafted free agent: The Rams’ signing of former LSU linebacker Omar Speights stands out as the best undrafted free agent move of last year. This continues the Rams’ trend of successfully identifying defensive talent, as shown in their 2024 NFL Draft class, which featured likely Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and first-team The Athletic All-Rookie defensive tackle Braden Fiske. Speights delivered an impressive rookie season, finishing with 67 tackles despite managing just one tackle over the first six games. His late-season production was complemented by his sure tackling, as he recorded the lowest missed-tackle rate (5.7%) among rookie linebackers. He also made his mark on special teams, playing 265 snaps. These efforts earned him the distinction of being the only undrafted rookie non-kicker to land on The Athletic’s All-Rookie team. With his athleticism and quickness, Speights is well-positioned to take on a larger role next season as he becomes more familiar with the Rams’ defensive system.

Top-Rated punter in NDN History: Chicago Bears punter Tory Taylor proved why he was the highest-rated punter in NFL Draft Notebook history with a record-breaking rookie season. Taylor set new Bears franchise records for net punting average (41.6 yards) and gross punting average (47.7 yards). In addition to his powerful leg, Taylor demonstrated solid precision, placing 40% of his punts inside the 20-yard line, with several landing inside the 10-yard line. His strong performance made his rookie campaign the most impressive of any punter in the NFL this season.

Bears Showing Interest in Hawkeye linebacker: At last week’s Hula Bowl, Iowa linebacker Nick Jackson was one of the few participants with a draftable grade. Among the teams showing interest in Jackson were the Chicago Bears, who met with him twice during the event. Jackson profiles as a solid late-round pick for the Bears, a team looking to bolster its linebacker depth. Known for his reliability as a tackler, Jackson amassed an impressive 553 tackles over his college career.

Raiders quarterback target: According to Raiders Inside's Mitchell Renz, the Las Vegas Raiders have expressed interest in Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The team reportedly sees significant value in selecting Gabriel, especially if they can secure him on Day Three of the NFL Draft. While it's currently unclear how Gabriel might fit into the Raiders' offense—given the uncertainty surrounding the system their new coaching staff will implement—there's no question the team will be in the market for a quarterback. The Raiders, holding the 6th overall pick, may find it challenging to land a high-value quarterback early in the draft. If the new head coach decides to install a West Coast-style offense, Gabriel could be an excellent fit for the team. His skill set would complement the system and help maximize the potential of standout tight end Brock Bowers, who is coming off one of the most impressive rookie seasons in NFL history.