Mock Draft Monday: Championship Game Players heading to Indy

Chris Ballard’s final press conference of the 2025 season looms large in the minds of fans and journalist’s alike, with one quote embodying what they can expect in the 2026 offseason:

“We gotta get younger and faster on the defensive side.”

Thus the priority is clear, get the Colts Defense up to snuff with an infusion of young and fast prospects early in the draft to aid Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo in his 2nd year with the Colts.

Round 2, Pick 47: Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami

One of the worst kept secrets this offseason is the Colts need more pass rush help immediately. So why not get one of the most experienced and polished pash rushers in the draft? While Akheem Mesidor’s age (25 by draftday) may be antithetical to the first part of Ballard’s quote, he will still 3 & 6 years younger than the 3 Colts Free Agent Defensive Ends he could be partially replacing (Kwity Paye 28, Samson Ebukam 31, Tyquan Lewis 31). Even when factoring that he is an older prospect, Mesidor’s combination of athletic traits and high end production is very alluring for teams to overlook the age number and look for what he can do immediately for a team in the increasingly short term vision oriented NFL.

Mesidor is 6’3 and 280 lbs. but he doesn’t move like a bigger Defensive End. He moves like he should be 30 pounds lighter with his explosion off of the line winning reps often with his first step. He can bend around the edge well and has quick agility to be used as a looper and to get around linemen. Mesidor can also line up inside as a 3 Technique, adding depth behind DeForest Buckner. All of this combined with his vicious power profile with bull-rushes, rip moves, two hand swipes, with powerful hands and it’s no wonder Mesidor had 63 Pressures (15.1%) with a 21.2% Pass Rush Win Rate in 2025. The Miami Hurricane is also a force of nature against the run with 25 Run Stops and a 90 Run D Grade in 2025.

The biggest things holding him back from being a Round 1 talent beyond his age is:

• A foot injury that cost him his 2023 season and needed surgery in 2024, but as he showed in 2025 he is fully recovered since.
• Reliant on physical gifts to win reps, needs more consistent technique in hand fighting to win against more polished tackles with strong anchors.
• Balance can be an issue, he needs to keep his feet under him when breaking through to the QB as there are a few falls on tape.

Should he stay healthy and continue to build upon the techniques he knows and the physical gifts he has, Mesidor could be a Day 1 impact pass rusher for the Colts at a steal of a pick in Round 2.

Round 3, Pick 78: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana

On the opposite side of the...