Colts draft S A.J. Haulcy - Round 3, Pick 78

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

https://x.com/MySportsUpdate/status/2047858584747438229

The Colts are taking LSU S AJ Haulcy at No. 78.

A ball-hawking safety, Haulcy earned First-Team All-SEC last year and recorded 10 INTs in his career.

https://x.com/ZachHicks2/status/2047859620895440991

AJ Haulcy and CJ Allen in Lou Anarumo's defense is going to be so much fun.

Colts definitely got younger and faster there.

Really like Haulcy as a strong safety that can play that robber role at a much higher level than Cross did last year


https://x.com/ZachHicks2/status/2047864461306855856

The Colts play so much C1 Robber that it was vital to get a safety with the ability to play that MOF robber role at a high level.

Haulcy is gonna be fun

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Below is the Ringer's scouting report. They had him ranked 47 on their Big Board.

https://theringer.com/nfl-draft/2026/big-board#content


Player comp: Shades of Bryan Cook

Menacing, ball-hawking enforcer at safety with excellent instincts in coverage and plenty of pop as a tackler.

Haulcy is a big and physical downhill safety who loves to lurk at the second level and jump into passing lanes or deliver a big hit. A transfer to LSU in 2025 after stops at New Mexico and Houston, he tallied three picks and four pass breakups for the Tigers last year while giving up just one touchdown in coverage. He proved to be a ball hawk over his college career, racking up 10 picks, 15 passes defensed, and four forced fumbles over four seasons. Haulcy shows good instincts in coverage. He sees routes developing, reads the quarterback’s eyes, and jumps into passing lanes to pick off throws. He demonstrates an understanding of what the offense is doing and gets himself to a spot where he can make a play. He’s decisive and shows no hesitation when keying in on a route, giving himself a jump on the ball. He’s shown good ball skills, with the hands to pluck it in traffic. Haulcy is a physical defender who delivers pop on contact. He comes in with a forceful peanut punch to dislodge the football and plays through the receiver to knock the ball away. He’s a fundamental tackler who gets low, drives through the thighs, and wraps up, regularly planting pass catchers and ballcarriers on their backs. He chops his feet and breaks down in space to avoid overrunning the play. He bulldozes right through blocks to blow up screen plays.

Haulcy is a little bit stiff in coverage, and he struggles at times to change directions fluidly without losing his footing. He lacks the elite twitch and speed to play deep-center-field safety and can be late to react to crossers, leaving the middle of the field vulnerable. There are times when he leads with his shoulder when coming in for a tackle and doesn’t wrap up. He needs to do a better job of finishing.

[apballin]

https://x.com/MySportsUpdate/status/2047858584747438229



https://x.com/ZachHicks2/status/2047859620895440991



https://x.com/ZachHicks2/status/2047864461306855856

I’m calling bullshit on this, they got younger for sure but how the fuck did they get faster?

Nick cross ran a 4.3

Haulcy ran a 4.52

CJ Allen 4.5

Franklin 4.6

So obviously you get “younger “ by drafting players

[Dam8610]

Like this pick much more than Allen.

[Kray007]

I’m calling bullshit on this, they got younger for sure but how the fuck did they get faster?

Nick cross ran a 4.3

Haulcy ran a 4.52

CJ Allen 4.5

Franklin 4.6

So obviously you get “younger “ by drafting players

I think that Hicks’ comment about getting faster is exhibit 1 for the importance of solid punctuation skills. My impression is that he’s saying that Allen is faster than Franklin.

[Mr. Session]

Like this pick much more than Allen.

Agreed

I don't love his tackling form but he's aggressive.

[YDFL Commish]

The kid has LB like size. He adds versatility and definitely will play a big nickel role, at the very least.

[Dam8610]

I’m calling bullshit on this, they got younger for sure but how the fuck did they get faster?

Nick cross ran a 4.3

Haulcy ran a 4.52

CJ Allen 4.5

Franklin 4.6

So obviously you get “younger “ by drafting players

Play speed is so different from 40 time. If you want to know who's game fast, look at the top speed data from the combine drills.

[apballin]

Did more research and I really like this pick now.

Seems like Lou wants all the guys that play in the middle of the field to be interchangeable.

[Dam8610]

Did more research and I really like this pick now.

Seems like Lou wants all the guys that play in the middle of the field to be interchangeable.

Haulcy is probably an upgrade on Cross for this defense.

[ChaosTheory]

Anarumo and crew's reaction to getting Haulcy:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/P3eN_dKTpF8

[Puck]

Anarumo and crew's reaction to getting Haulcy:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/P3eN_dKTpF8


Looks like they were holding their breath he would be there. Nice find

[Dam8610]

After watching Haulcy more, I'm a lot more excited about this pick. I'm not saying he'll be as good as either of these players, though I hope he is, but watching his film, his coverage reminds me of Antoine Bethea, and his run support and hit power remind me of Bob Sanders.

[apballin]

After watching Haulcy more, I'm a lot more excited about this pick. I'm not saying he'll be as good as either of these players, though I hope he is, but watching his film, his coverage reminds me of Antoine Bethea, and his run support and hit power remind me of Bob Sanders.

I respect your knowledge of college players and your breakdowns of them but nobody I mean nobody can even compare to Bob Sanders, he was 1 of 1.

I’m no expert but from what I’ve seen of Haulcy he reminds me of Mike Adams which is fine.

[Dam8610]

I respect your knowledge of college players and your breakdowns of them but nobody I mean nobody can even compare to Bob Sanders, he was 1 of 1.

I’m no expert but from what I’ve seen of Haulcy he reminds me of Mike Adams which is fine.

Look at his takedown of Le'Veon Moss and tell me that isn't reminiscent of Bob Sanders's eraser days. I'm not saying Haulcy will be as good, though I certainly hope he is, I'm just saying that element of his game is similar.

Also Haulcy is nothing like Mike Adams. Adams had no enforcer to his game, and was primarily a coverage safety. Haulcy is good in zone coverage, but you don't want him in man against a WR or some of the better receiving TEs in the NFL. What you want Haulcy doing is playing either deep half or short zone or man coverage, such as the underneath zone in Cover 1 Robber, reading the QB, and using his physicality to support the run game and make receivers think twice about MOF routes, which is Anarumo's defense is looking for from its SS.

[Hoopsdoc]

I respect your knowledge of college players and your breakdowns of them but nobody I mean nobody can even compare to Bob Sanders, he was 1 of 1.

I’m no expert but from what I’ve seen of Haulcy he reminds me of Mike Adams which is fine.

I don’t know about Haulcy but 100 percent agree with you on Bob. In his prime, there was nobody better. Nobody. He was the best I ever saw, and that includes Ed Reed and Palmolive.

[Dam8610]

I don’t know about Haulcy but 100 percent agree with you on Bob. In his prime, there was nobody better. Nobody. He was the best I ever saw, and that includes Ed Reed and Palmolive.

Bob is my favorite Colt of all time, and for the pure impact each player had on the game when healthy, I would agree with you. But as a pure safety, Reed was better. Sean Taylor would've been better than all of them had he not died.

[apballin]

Look at his takedown of Le'Veon Moss and tell me that isn't reminiscent of Bob Sanders's eraser days. I'm not saying Haulcy will be as good, though I certainly hope he is, I'm just saying that element of his game is similar.

Also Haulcy is nothing like Mike Adams. Adams had no enforcer to his game, and was primarily a coverage safety. Haulcy is good in zone coverage, but you don't want him in man against a WR or some of the better receiving TEs in the NFL. What you want Haulcy doing is playing either deep half or short zone or man coverage, such as the underneath zone in Cover 1 Robber, reading the QB, and using his physicality to support the run game and make receivers think twice about MOF routes, which is Anarumo's defense is looking for from its SS.

If he wins DPOY I’ll personally buy and mail you a Haulcy jersey

[Oldcolt]

Bob is my favorite Colt of all time, and for the pure impact each player had on the game when healthy, I would agree with you. But as a pure safety, Reed was better. Sean Taylor would've been better than all of them had he not died.

Those guys were better because they played longer careers. There was nobody who elevated a defense like Sanders. One man took that defense from run of the mill to exceptional. It was an amazing thing to see

[apballin]

Those guys were better because they played longer careers. There was nobody who elevated a defense like Sanders. One man took that defense from run of the mill to exceptional. It was an amazing thing to see

Not only run if the mil… a historically bad run defense.

He played 1 full season and won DPOY at 5-8 in a game of giants

[Dam8610]

If he wins DPOY I’ll personally buy and mail you a Haulcy jersey

I said an aspect of Haulcy's game reminds me of Bob. If he wins DPOY ever, I'm sure that will be a fun season.

Those guys were better because they played longer careers. There was nobody who elevated a defense like Sanders. One man took that defense from run of the mill to exceptional. It was an amazing thing to see

Again, Bob is my favorite Colt of all time, and from a pure impact on their team perspective, I agree that was the best of those players. Ed Reed was different in coverage, though, and he was nearly as physical as Bob.

I'll put it this way: for what that Colts team needed, Bob Sanders was the better player than Ed Reed. If I'm starting a team and can pick one of the two players to put on it in their prime, I'd take Ed Reed.

[apballin]

I said an aspect of Haulcy's game reminds me of Bob. If he wins DPOY ever, I'm sure that will be a fun season.



Again, Bob is my favorite Colt of all time, and from a pure impact on their team perspective, I agree that was the best of those players. Ed Reed was different in coverage, though, and he was nearly as physical as Bob.

I'll put it this way: for what that Colts team needed, Bob Sanders was the better player than Ed Reed. If I'm starting a team and can pick one of the two players to put on it in their prime, I'd take Ed Reed.

Ed Reed had the luxury of playing with the greatest MLB I’ve ever seen. Leaving him to focus on coverage for the most part. Bob was the tone setter, he changed everything by himself, a 1 man fucking wrecking crew. He made the other 10 guys on the field and the 50k fans confident

[Colts And Orioles]

o


Colts’ Rookie Safety Has Exceeded All Expectations Thus Far

(By Noah Compton)

https://www.si.com/nfl/colts/onsi/colts-rookie-safety-has-exceeded-all-expectations-thus-far



Rookie defensive back A.J. Haulcy is the leader-of-the-pack as the Colts break for summer, and although that was the hope after he was drafted, he's exceeded expectations entirely through the spring.

2nd-year DB/LB hybrid Hunter Wohler presents an intriguing option in the Colts' safety room as someone who can play from the box, and veteran safety Juanyeh Thomas is more the free-range defender of the two.

Wohler and Thomas have strengths to pull from, but it's Haulcy's combination of ball-skills, versatility, and durability that separates him from the bunch.


Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo's Early Impression


Haulcy was very productive at the college level, logging 10 INT's, 203 tackles, 19 passes broken up, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 4 forced fumbles in 48 games played.

His instincts on the gridiron led to such production, and although the Colts' coaching staff was excited to see that translate, what Haulcy has shown in a short time as an NFL defensive back has them convinced that they made the right call in drafting him.

“I'll tell you what, you think that you know a guy and you go through the process and I think we, not only the coaches, but Chris (Ballard) and his staff, we thought that we had a really good feel for what he was all about. And so far, he's come in and exceeded my expectations ...... just from a mental standpoint in terms of picking things up, recall," Colts' defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said about Haulcy's first impression.

"He's not a repeat offender when it comes to a mistake that he may get. He gets football. Like he has a really good feel for subtleties of the game that maybe a guy as a rookie doesn't have. So, I'm excited about where his upside can go.

Anarumo isn't going to hand over a starting job to a rookie just because, especially considering his history of prioritizing veteran experience. Haulcy will have to continue earning his stripes throughout the summer, but this is a fantastic first step regardless.


Cam Bynum's Takeaway


The Colts' free-safety spot is locked up for the foreseeable future with veteran Cam Bynum leading the defensive backfield. He has quickly become the leader of the Colts' back-end, both vocally and by example.

Whoever ends up starting alongside him back deep will inevitably require some pointers along the way, and Bynum both understands and welcomes the assignment.

When it comes to rookie safety A.J. Haulcy, Bynum couldn't be more impressed with how he's operated thus far.

"Yeah, first day of practice, he had a one-hand snag pick on an over route and snatched it out of the air. So, I think what he's been doing so far ...... learning the defense, sitting next to me in film ...... I'm able to get a lot of knowledge from him. Then vice-versa, I'm able to give whatever I can to him." Bynum explained his thoughts on Haulcy's introduction to the league.

"And just from the whole room, I think that everybody's been embracing all of the rookies, but especially AJ ...... so, I think that he's been doing a really good job. He's operating like a vet."

So, not only has Haulcy quickly proved to be the on-field talent that his college-film suggested, but he's operating like a seasoned vet, showcasing a much-needed mindset for a potential rookie starter.

We'll have to wait until the pads come on during training camp later this summer to really see what he's got up his sleeve ...... but so far, A.J. Haulcy has positioned himself nicely, thanks to a near picture-perfect spring showing.

o