Colts' Draft Pick: Jake Golday's Upside

0:00On April 23rd, the NFL Draft kicks off tomorrow at APM from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Indianapolis Colts sit tight until Friday for their first pick at 47th overall in the second round. Linebacker is a glaring knee for them, but one bleacher report writer warns to steer clear of Cincinnati's Jake Goldey. Goldey switched from defensive end at Central Arkansas to linebacker with the Bearcats, so his stock rise heavy on projection. Big say his instincts might not translate fast enough, and the Colts can't afford a slow burn at that spot. Fans and scouts pushback hard though, pointing to his breakout stats. In his first Bearcats year, he racked up 58 tackles, seven for loss and two forced fumbles. Then, in 2025, he exploded with 105 tackles, elite run defense grades from pro football focus, and just a 9 percent missed tackle rate. Colts GM. Chris Ballard loves athletic freaks, and Goldey's 925 relative athletic score puts him top

1:00tier among linebackers. Their current room features newcomer Akeem Davis-Gaether and entry-plague Jalen Carly's, leaving thin depth no matter what. Bottom line, even if Goldey starts as a rotational guy, he brings upside to a weak group and fits Ballard's mold perfectly. Open eye on whether Indy pulls the trigger, come day 2.