The Indianapolis Colts came away from the 2025 NFL Draft with eight picks, one more than their original allotment. They made just one trade, moving down in the fourth round and gaining an extra pick in the sixth.

Every team loves their picks on draft weekend, though no one truly knows whether a team succeeded for three years. But that doesn’t stop the flood of instant grades, and here’s what national experts think of the Colts’ haul.

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Round 1, 14th overall: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Round 2, 45th: J.T. Tuimoloau, edge, Ohio State

Round 3, 80th: Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota

Round 4, 127th: Jalen Travis, T, Iowa State

Round 5, 151st: D.J. Giddens, RB, Kansas State

Round 6, 189th: Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame

Round 6, 190th: Tim Smith, DT, Alabama

Round 7, 232nd: Hunter Wohler, S, Wisconsin

Indianapolis Colts draft grades: What Mel Kiper Jr. thinks of the Colts’ picks

Warren: Tyler Warren is everything NFL offenses look for at tight end: a do-it-all player with day-one impact in the run and pass games. The Penn State standout earned an impressive 93.4 PFF receiving grade this past season with incredible efficiency, having averaged 2.78 yards per route run (97th percentile). Anthony Richardson now has a full complement of playmakers to roll with into the 2025 campaign.

Tuimoloau: After losing Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency, the Colts had a void to fill off the edge. Tuimoloau profiles as a high-floor defender with strong leg drive and a fearless approach to playing the run. His 87.3 PFF run-defense grade will fit in well with a Colts defense that produced the third-highest team run-defense grade (75.8) in the NFL last season.

Walley: Walley brings good experience and profiles best as a zone-coverage cornerback. He forced 10 incompletions in 2024 and posted a 71.3 PFF coverage grade. He also allowed just one touchdown and a 57.8 passer rating when targeted.

Travis: Travis is a huge offensive tackle at 6-foot-8 and 339 pounds. He was the starting left tackle for Iowa State last season after transferring from Princeton. He was excellent in pass protection, never allowing three or more pressures, but he earned only a 58.5 run-blocking grade. He will compete for the backup spot behind established veterans Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith.

Giddens: Giddens was the No. 96-ranked player on the PFF Big Board. He posted a PFF rushing grade of 84.0 or higher in each of the past two seasons and a grade above 80.0 on both zone and gap runs in 2024. He will look to carve out a role behind Jonathan Taylor in the Colts’ backfield.

Leonard: Leonard will need to improve his throw-to-throw consistency to develop into an NFL starter, but he does provide value as a dual threat and earned a 91.6 deep PFF passing grade in 2024.

Smith: Smith will provide depth and versatility for the Colts’ defensive line. His lack of explosion suggests he won’t be a plus pass rusher, as his pass-rush win rate was never above 8.0% in a season.

Wohler: Wohler boasted an elite 90.0 coverage grade over the past two seasons. He is a sound tackler, with three straight seasons of 77.0-plus PFF tackling grades. Wohler also logged 452 career special teams snaps.

Warren and Tuimoloau were two of my favorite picks early in the draft. Their combination of strength and playmaking ability will help the franchise on both sides of the ball. Walley should provide depth in the secondary.

Travis is a powerful blocker who could step up, with both starters (Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith) entering a contract year. Giddens was the reserve back they needed behind Jonathan Taylor. I projected Leonard as a Day 3 Colts pick because he’s a gamer who looks to improve his consistency as a passer.

I wasn’t as enamored with Tyler Warren as the masses, although I do acknowledge he could become the focal point of the offense in Indy like he was at Penn State.

Tuimoloau raises the floor of the defensive end position, and Travis has All-Pro upside at tackle. He’s enormous, athletic and balanced. Giddens will be a fun complement to Jonathan Taylor because of his lateral cutting skill. Those were my favorite picks from the Colts.

Walley went early for my liking, and I didn’t see an NFL future for Riley Leonard, although the quarterback spot is far from secured on this team. The middle of this class was better than the beginning and the end.

The Colts had to be thrilled in the first round when Warren fell to them at No. 14. Coming out of Penn State, he gives Indianapolis someone who caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards last season, and slots in as an immediate weapon alongside receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. In the second round, Tuimoloau is a nice value as well, as some thought he was a first-round talent entering the 2024 campaign. He should get plenty of snaps opposite last year’s first-rounder in Laiatu Latu.

The Colts have to figure out if Anthony Richardson (or even Daniel Jones) is their true franchise quarterback this season. But it’s really hard to do that if the quarterback’s supporting cast isn’t up to snuff.

Step 1 is getting playmakers. Tight end Tyler Warren will move all over this offense and dominate no matter where offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter puts him. Penn State used him as a traditional in-line tight end, an H-back, a fullback, out of the slot and lined up out wide. The Colts’ tight end room, led by Kylen Granson, managed 39 catches (last) for 467 yards (second to last) and two TDs (tied for second to last) in 2024. But drafting Warren should change everything there. He had 700 receiving yards after the catch last season.

Suddenly, Richardson has a reliable outlet who can haul in anything and stretch the seams, and Indy didn’t have to move up to get my No. 7 prospect. It was really the best-case scenario for GM Chris Ballard on Thursday.

Step 2 is addressing the protection. Remember, the Colts lost Will Fries and Ryan Kelly in free agency. They were 25th in pass block win rate last season (56.4%), and Richardson was one of the worst QBs in the NFL when pressured (20.2 QBR, 24th in the league). I think they fell a little short here. They waited until Day 3 and reached a bit even at that point in the draft, taking offensive tackle Jalen Travis at No. 127. I would have loved guard Marcus Mbow in that spot.

Two more picks to call out. JT Tuimoloau had 12 sacks last season, and the Colts ranked 31st in the NFL with a 26.2% pressure rate in 2024. He has a lot of upside as a second-rounder. And running back DJ Giddens will be a good backup to Jonathan Taylor. Giddens broke 1,200 rushing yards in each of the past two seasons.

The Indianapolis Colts picked Riley Leonard with the 189th overall pick in the sixth round of the NFL draft.

Here is what you should know about Leonard.

Riley Leonard draft grade

Nate Atkins of the IndyStar gave the pick a B.

“The Colts were going to draft a quarterback on Day 3, given that they had two on the roster after Sam Ehlinger departed for the Broncos. And now, the replacement they’ve found in the sixth round draws some easy comparisons to where Ehlinger was coming out of Texas in the same round in 2021.

“Leonard started for two different schools in Duke and Notre Dame and took both to some special relative heights, including guiding the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game last season. He was more of a game manager than the catalyst, though, as he doesn’t have much of a downfield arm and also struggles in his decision making, as illustrated by his eight interceptions on just 403 attempts last season.

“But he fits a room that’s become all about mobility with Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones competing for the starting role. Leonard ran for 906 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, and he ran for 36 scores across his college career.”

Does Riley Leonard fit Colts’ needs?

With Sam Ehlinger signing with the Denver Broncos in free agency, the Colts needed a third quarterback and Leonard will fill that role.

Watch the NFL draft on Fubo

Riley Leonard college

Riley Leonard attended Notre Dame and Duke.

Riley Leonard highlights

Riley Leonard stats

In one season at Notre Dame, Riley Leonard threw for 2,861 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also ran for 906 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Leonard spent his first three seasons at Duke, where he threw for 4,450 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Riley Leonard height

Riley Leonard is 6-4.

Riley Leonard weight

Riley Leonard weighs 216 pounds.

Riley Leonard combine results

At the NFL combine, Riley Leonard was ranked the 12th-best quarterback in the production category. Leonard ranked fourth at his position in the athleticism category and was eighth overall in total score for quarterbacks.

Riley Leonard high school

Riley Leonard went to Fairhope High School in Alabama, the same hometown as former Colts quarterback Philip Rivers.

The Indianapolis Colts picked JT Tuimoloau with the 45th overall pick in the second round of the NFL draft.

Here is what you should know about Tuimoloau.

JT Tuimoloau draft grade

Nate Atkins of the IndyStar gave the pick an A.

“The Colts are always going to value the trenches under general manager Chris Ballard, so going here in the second round is no surprise. Especially when they had a void to fill after losing Dayo Odeyingbo. And especially considering nobody beyond 2024 first-round pick Laiatu Latu is signed for the 2026 season.”

USA TODAY gave the pick a B.

“Tuimoloau might not be single-handedly jolt the Colts’ edge rush, but he can be an important part of a rotation. The 6-4, 265-pounder reliably creates pressure with his bull rush and sets a firm edge against the run.”

Does JT Tuimoloau fit Colts’ needs?

The Colts lost Odeyingbo to the Bears in free agency, making Tuimoloau an excellent fit. He and Kwity Paye can play on the early downs with 2024 first-round pick Laiatu Latu coming in on passing downs a better fit for his skills.

Watch the NFL draft on Fubo

JT Tuimoloau college

JT Tuimoloau attended Ohio State.

JT Tuimoloau highlights

JT Tuimoloau stats

In four seasons at Ohio State, JT Tuimoloau had 45 tackles for loss, 144 combined tackles and 23.5 sacks.

JT Tuimoloau height

JT Tuimoloau is 6-4.

JT Tuimoloau weight

JT Tuimoloau weighs 265 pounds.

JT Tuimoloau combine results

At the NFL combine, JT Tuimoloau was ranked the third-best defensive end in the production category. Tuimoloau ranked ninth at his position in the athleticism category and was sixth overall in total score for edge rushers.

JT Tuimoloau high school

JT Tuimoloau went to high school at Eastside Catholic in Sammamish, Washington.