The Indianapolis Colts are trying to take the next step on the football field after falling short of the playoffs in recent seasons. With an offense built around quarterback Anthony Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor, the team believes 2025 could finally be its year.
The Colts are hoping their offense can carry them far. Looking ahead, though, there are still ways it can get better—and that could start as soon as the 2026 NFL Draft.
Colts Make Intriguing Pick in Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft
The Colts added a major piece to their offense in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in the first round. They’ve needed a long-term option at tight end, and the team believes Warren can be that guy.
Richardson is locked in as the quarterback of the future. He’s had growing pains early in his career and drew criticism when he benched himself during a critical moment in a 2024 game. Still, the Colts are committed to him.
In a recent 2026 NFL mock draft from PFSN, the Colts are projected to go back to the backfield. They used the No. 8 overall pick on Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, giving them a potential one-two punch with Taylor.
In honor of 98 days until Notre Dame Football is back…
Here is Jeremiyah Love’s 98-yard rushing touchdown in the College Football Playoff against Indiana. ☘️ pic.twitter.com/xhgekhHHAS
— Caleb Conrad (@CalebConrad23) May 25, 2025
“This is admittedly more of a let’s-have-fun pick than anything else, but at this point in the offseason, there’s plenty of room for these kinds of selections. Jonathan Taylor has two years left on his deal, and the opportunity is ripe to create a historic RB tandem in Indy,” PFSN contributor Ian Cummings wrote of the selection.
“Jeremiyah Love is a bit taller, leaner, and leggier than Taylor, but he’s the kind of deadly explosive presence who can help the Colts emulate the David Montgomery-Jahmyr Gibbs combo in Detroit. A supercharged slasher with awesome flexibility and balance, Love is different.”
The Colts’ run game is already a strength. They rushed for 2,331 yards in 2024, which ranked eighth in the NFL. That was an improvement from 2023, when they finished 10th with 2,059 yards.
Even so, that success on the ground hasn’t always translated to points. They were 11th in scoring in 2023, averaging 23.3 points per game. That dropped to 17th in 2024, with 22.2 points per game.
Adding another back like Love could make their offense more efficient. Taylor is already established, finishing fourth in the league in rushing yards last season. Pairing him with someone like Love could give Indianapolis a dangerous duo and help them make the leap Detroit made with its two-back system.
The Colts have a young core on both sides of the ball and are still working toward playoff contention. It’s too early to say how the 2026 NFL Draft will shake out, but Love is a name worth watching.