2026 NFL Draft thread - Day 2 discussion - Rounds 2 and 3

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Round 2 starts at 7 Eastern / 6 Central.


Announcers:

ESPN: Mike Greenberg, Mel Kiper Jr., Louis Riddick, Booger McFarland, Adam Schefter, Laura Rutledge

ABC: Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Field Yates, Molly McGrath, Pete Thamel

NFL Network: Rich Eisen, Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Joel Klatt, Ian Rapoport

[Racehorse]

Round 2 starts at 7 Eastern / 6 Central.


Announcers:

ESPN: Mike Greenberg, Mel Kiper Jr., Louis Riddick, Booger McFarland, Adam Schefter, Laura Rutledge

ABC: Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Field Yates, Molly McGrath, Pete Thamel

NFL Network: Rich Eisen, Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Joel Klatt, Ian Rapoport

I think I would prefer to listen to the ESPN crew.

[sherck]

All things being equal, I think I would like to see picked today:

LB as we are in desperate need of infused talent at that level of the defense.
SS as I am unsold on whom could be a quality starter on the roster.

Yes, I know DE and WR might be higher preceived places of need but we don't select DEs for diddly and I am comfortable with the weapons we have on offense even with the loss of Pittman.

[Colts And Orioles]

o


If the Colts could trade their 2nd-round pick for an otherworldly guarantee that Daniel Jones would not sustain any major injuries for the entire 2026 season, I think that they would.

o

[ChoppedWood]

All things being equal, I think I would like to see picked today:

LB as we are in desperate need of infused talent at that level of the defense.
SS as I am unsold on whom could be a quality starter on the roster.

Yes, I know DE and WR might be higher preceived places of need but we don't select DEs for diddly and I am comfortable with the weapons we have on offense even with the loss of Pittman.

Ballard making the decision on yet another DE, makes my stomach hurt. I just heard we are looking at a DE from Michigan in Rd 3, please please please fucking no!

[Puck]

Ballard is going to be trading tonight. I think both up and back. Gonna be a bzy night for the Colts I believe

[YDFL Commish]

It's all in front of Ballard. Now go get it, goddammit!

[YDFL Commish]

Fuk'n chefs just took my guy! Edge is coming off the board, with Howell next.

[IndyNorm]

Ballard making the decision on yet another DE, makes my stomach hurt. I just heard we are looking at a DE from Michigan in Rd 3, please please please fucking no!

Why I'm hoping we take a LB in the 2nd, and not just b/c it's a bigger need. If Ballard takes a LB early then odds are he'll be good and maybe great. DE not so much.

[Racehorse]

Ballard making the decision on yet another DE, makes my stomach hurt. I just heard we are looking at a DE from Michigan in Rd 3, please please please fucking no!

The guy the Lions just took?

[YDFL Commish]

I'm expecting Edge-Jacas, LB-Hill or trade down
at this point

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

I'm expecting Edge-Jacas, LB-Hill or trade down
at this point


Trade down with Steelers

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Trade details:

Pick up an additional 4th round pick


https://x.com/MikeGarafolo/status/2047828601303970173

Colts trade 47, 249

Steelers trade 53, 135, 237

[YDFL Commish]

If this backfires on Ballard, then he's written his sentence. He will BANISHED to the CFL

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

If this backfires on Ballard, then he's written his sentence. He will BANISHED to the CFL


The last time the Colts drafted at Pick 53, they selected Alec Pierce.

[Hoopsdoc]

CJ Allen, linebacker.

Desperately needed at the position, I know absolutely nothing about the player.

[Mr. Session]

CJ Allen, linebacker.

Desperately needed at the position, I know absolutely nothing about the player.

From what I saw I know from two games he can’t get off a fucking block.

[Racehorse]

CJ Allen, linebacker.

Desperately needed at the position, I know absolutely nothing about the player.

Same here but Georgia defenders have been good prospects.

[Dam8610]

Not even the best LB on the board (Hill). Also they could've taken a starter at SS (McNeil-Warren) or EDGE (Jacas)

[apballin]

Lance zurleins comparison….


Zaire Franklin, I don’t get this pick at all if that’s true

[YDFL Commish]

If he can run sideline to sideline and cover somebody, then he's better than what we had last season.

Also, the one position Ballard drafts best is LB. I trust in Ballard on this pick.

[Dam8610]

If he can run sideline to sideline and cover somebody, then he's better than what we had last season.

Also, the one position Ballard drafts best is LB. I trust in Ballard on this pick.

He struggles in pass coverage. He basically is another Zaire Franklin. This is stupid.

[Oldcolt]

If he can run sideline to sideline and cover somebody, then he's better than what we had last season.

Also, the one position Ballard drafts best is LB. I trust in Ballard on this pick.

I disagree that Ballard is good at drafting linebackers. I don’t think he’s bad but he is nothing special. He’s living off a second rounder he drafted like 10 years ago. There are exactly zero linebackers of any consequence on this team never mind ones he’s drafted. No starters or developmental prospects waiting in the wings. Not one long term core dude you build around in a decade of drafting

[YDFL Commish]

I disagree that Ballard is good at drafting linebackers. I don’t think he’s bad but he is nothing special. He’s living off a second rounder he drafted like 10 years ago. There are exactly zero linebackers of any consequence on this team never mind ones he’s drafted. No starters or developmental prospects waiting in the wings. Not one long term core dude you build around in a decade of drafting

Name one LB that Ballard missed on?

[Kray007]

This will tell us what they think about Charvarius Ward’s status.

[YDFL Commish]

I want either Big Citrus or Sutton here.

[Racehorse]

This will tell us what they think about Cam Ward’s status.

The Titans QB?

[Oldcolt]

I didn't say he missed on them for shits sake. The options aren't brilliant or pure shit He has drafted some run of the mill mediocre linebackers, not pure busts. He hasn't hit on one linebacker since Leonard and that was a decade ago. He doesn't seem to put much emphasis on linebackers and that may be why he hasn't hit on one, this is the highest we have drafted a linebacker in like 6 years.

[Kray007]

The Titans QB?

Brain fart

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

He hasn't hit on one linebacker since Leonard and that was a decade ago.

Okereke was drafted after Leonard

[IndyNorm]

Not even the best LB on the board (Hill). Also they could've taken a starter at SS (McNeil-Warren) or EDGE (Jacas)

Would have liked to have seen us draft Hill there as well :cool:

[Dam8610]

Haulcy was a much better pick. Takes away the ball a lot. Probably at least not a dropoff from Cross, maybe even an upgrade.

[IndyNorm]

Okereke was drafted after Leonard

Beat me to it. Okereke was obviously a really good pick as well. For all of Ballard's faults he has drafted LB well. Although he hasn't drafted many of them. Allen is just the 3rd LB we've used a 1-3 rounder on under Ballard. All of the other LBs he's drafted have been 3rd day picks and most of them have at least been productive players like Walker Jr. and Franklin.

[Oldcolt]

You don’t let top of the line player walk at the end of their contract and have him get cut before he finishes that contract. If he was such a hit we can still sign him. Got cut a month ago and nobody has signed him yet. Not my idea of an impact player

[IndyNorm]

You don’t let top of the line player walk at the end of their contract and have him get cut before he finishes that contract. If he was such a hit we can still sign him. Got cut a month ago and nobody has signed him yet. Not my idea of an impact player

Assuming you're talking about Okereke. He was a very productive starter for us in years 3-4 and a productive part time starter before that. He played well enough to sign a large FA contract. Presumably we let him walk b/c we had just signed Leonard to a mega deal and did not want to tie up too much cap space in the same position group. He's been productive for the Giants in the 3 years he was there. Yes, they released him, but presumably that's b/c they're rebuilding and want to clear cap space and get younger across the board.

Maybe our expectations are different, but IMO the guy's had a really good career and was well worth a 3rd round pick.

Also, I would definitely be happy if we brought him back. Doubt that happens though since we've just spent 2 of our top 4 draft picks at his position.