INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Who to DRAFT, Who to TRADE? (w/ Stephen Holder)

In this episode of Locked On Colts, hosts Jake Arthur and Zach Hicks are joined by ESPN's Stephen Holder to tackle the Indianapolis Colts' draft strategy ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. With no first-round pick, the focus shifts to how the Colts can best address their glaring defensive deficiencies, particularly at linebacker, where the team lacks both talent and depth. Holder emphasizes that the biggest priority for Chris Ballard is to make tangible progress on defense, especially after a historically poor finish to the 2025 season. The discussion delves into trade possibilities for players like Kenny Moore and Anthony Richardson, with Holder suggesting that public acknowledgment of trade interest may have lowered their value, though the Colts remain willing to accommodate players’ preferences. The team is expected to trade back in round two to accumulate more picks, a strategy they’ve executed successfully in the past. The consensus is that linebacker is the most urgent need, with Anthony Hill Jr. and Jacob Rodriguez emerging as top targets. The episode also touches on the Colts’ roster depth, with concerns about aging players and limited room for undrafted free agents, and concludes with predictions for the second-round pick, favoring Hill Jr. as the likely selection.