The final two signatures landed on the dotted line Tuesday, and just like that, the Indianapolis Colts have their full 2026 draft class under contract.
Fourth-round selections Jalen Farmer and Bryce Boettcher put pen to paper on their four-year rookie deals, the team confirmed on June 9. With that, the Colts have signed all eight members of their 2026 draft class. The roster now stands at 90 players, ready for training camp that opens in July. General manager Chris Ballard and his staff can turn their attention to the summer competition without a lingering contract distraction.
The Guard Foundation
For Farmer, a guard out of Kentucky chosen with the 113th overall pick, the path to playing time runs through one of the best interiors in football. Quenton Nelson remains a pillar at left guard. Matt Goncalves, a 2024 draftee, and veteran Josh Sills also hold guard spots. The Colts have invested heavily in the offensive line for years, and Farmer walking into this room means he will not be rushed.
But that is not a drawback. The Kentucky product arrives with a frame that pro scouts liked -- he moves well for his size, and his college tape showed a mean streak in the run game that the offensive line coach can develop. The Colts value depth on the interior because they understand the grind of a 17-game season. Injuries happen. Farmer gives them a young, cost-controlled option who can develop behind the starters and contribute on special teams early.
The signing itself is procedural. Rookie contracts in the fourth round come with a standard four-year term and modest guarantees. But the completion matters because it allows Farmer to fully participate in the final weeks of the offseason program. He can learn Shane Steichen's scheme, build chemistry with center Tanor Bortolini and his teammates, and earn meaningful reps in training camp.
A Different Path for Boettcher
Boettcher's situation is more crowded. The Colts linebacker room has undergone significant turnover. Akeem Davis-Gaither arrived in free agency. The team drafted CJ Allen in the second round of this same class, making him the probable future anchor at linebacker. Jaylon Carlies, a 2024 draftee, is still developing. Devin Veresuk and Austin Ajiake are also competing.
But Boettcher brings something the Colts specifically targeted late on Day 3: special teams value and high football character. He was a team captain at Oregon and played multiple roles in the Ducks' defense, showing an ability to diagnose run plays quickly and take on blockers. In a rotation that may not have room for him as an every-down linebacker in 2026, his ticket to the 53-man roster is through special teams.
Brian Mason, the Colts' special teams coordinator, favors versatile players who can cover kicks and contribute in the third phase of the game. Boettcher fits that description well. If he performs strongly in the preseason, he may carve out a role similar to what the Colts have sought from reserve linebackers in recent years -- a core special teams contributor who can spell starters when needed.
The Full Eight-Man Picture
With Farmer and Boettcher now signed, here is the complete 2026 draft class for the Colts:
- Round 2, No. 53 overall: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
- Round 3, No. 78 overall: A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
- Round 4, No. 113 overall: Jalen Farmer, OG, Kentucky
- Round 4, No. 135 overall: Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
- Round 5, No. 156 overall: George Gumbs Jr., EDGE, Florida
- Round 6, No. 214 overall: Caden Curry, EDGE, Ohio State
- Round 7, No. 237 overall: Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky
- Round 7, No. 254 overall: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
General manager Chris Ballard made a clear bet on this class by focusing on linebackers and defensive ends. Allen and Boettcher join an edge group that includes Gumbs and Curry. Four defensive front-seven players out of eight picks underscores the team's intention to inject youth and competition into a defense coordinator Lou Anarumo is reshaping.
The secondary got one pick in Haulcy, a safety from LSU. The offensive side received Farmer, McGowan, and Burks -- a guard, running back, and wide receiver. All three have opportunities to make an impact, but none enters camp as an automatic starter. The Colts' roster depth allows them the luxury to develop this group patiently.
What This Means for Camp
With every rookie signed, the Colts can proceed with full competitive practices--no agent holdouts, no contract disputes. Every player on the roster is locked in on the same goal.
This stability matters more than it seems. Rookies who miss time due to unsigned contracts lose valuable reps and fall behind in scheme installation and conditioning. The Colts have avoided that issue entirely. By June 10, every draft pick is in the building, every contract filed, every player ready to compete.
The next milestone is mandatory minicamp later this month, followed by training camp in July. That is when the real evaluation begins. The Colts will carry a 90-man roster into camp and must trim down to 53 by the end of August. Some of these rookies will make the team; some will land on the practice squad, and others will be vying for opportunities elsewhere.
For those who make it, Tuesday marked the first official step. Farmer and Boettcher are now officially Colts. The rest of the draft class has been in the fold for weeks. Now they all get to show what they can do.
The waiting is over. The work begins.
