Possible NFL Draft Day Three Targets for the Indianapolis Colts

By: Jack Guiley

With the combine wrapping up this past weekend in Indianapolis, Draft Nation decided to take a look at four prospects who fit the Chris Ballard late round player mold. Elite testers, small school standouts, team captains, and Senior Bowl participants are all variables that Ballard has historically considered. Going into his eighth season as the Colts general manager, many of his tendencies are well known, and therefore Draft Nation feels confident that at least one of these players will end up dawning the horseshoe next Fall.

Jaylon Carlies - S/LB Missouri

There's been talk about Carlies potentially converting from his collegiate safety position to linebacker. The Tiger safety is known for being a linear athlete who struggles to cover in the backend, so a transition to linebacker makes sense.

As offenses continue to evolve, the college game continues to produce uber athletic tight ends that require bigger, faster linebackers to cover them. Carlies is likely a round five or six player that could sit behind Zaire Franklin and EJ Speed for a few years to hone in on the nuances of the linebacker position, while contributing on special teams.

Ballard has a knack for drafting productive linebackers, and Jaylon Carlies could be in line to be the next one. The position switch seems more favorable when comparing Carlie’s relative athletic score (RAS) to EJ Speed’s. The arm length is one measurement that will likely intrigue Ballard.

https://x.com/guiley_jack/status/1764767781629591941?s=20

(Credit to @MathBomb on Twitter for his RAS metric)

Nick Gargiulo - OC South Carolina

The Colts could take a shot at a mid/late round center to eventually replace the aging Ryan Kelly. Kelly still could have several Pro Bowl level years left in his tank, however Indianapolis should still look to upgrade their interior line depth.

Gargiulo is exactly the type of player that Ballard falls in love with in the later rounds. Projected to go in the sixth or seventh round, the former South Carolina center only spent one year as a Gamecock. He began his college playing career at Yale, where he was named a team captain in 2022. Then in 2023 during his only year at South Carolina, Gargiulo was again named a captain. Additionally, the center prospect won the offensive toughness award with the Gamecocks.

To put a bow on it, Gargiulo had a fantastic day at the Combine. Again using @MathBomb on Twitter/X’s RAS metric, Gargiulo tested like an elite athlete.

https://x.com/MathBomb/status/1764687760210694415?s=20

He also displayed impressive versatility, starting at center for five games this year and spending seven at left guard. At Yale, he played center and left tackle. This is a Chris Ballard guy through and through.

Ryan Watts - DB Texas

If Jaylon Carlies is a safety that should convert to linebacker, then Ryan Watts is a cornerback that could make a fantastic free safety. Watts has exceptional arm length and size, but not the short area quickness desired to stick with shifty receivers. He could be an immediate special teams contributor, and eventually even a plus starter at safety with his cornerback background and physicality in the run game. This is a player the Colts will likely target in the fifth round. Earlier than most projections, but Ballard tends to bet on athletes.

https://x.com/MathBomb/status/1763747338416189707?s=20

Jalyx Hunt - DE Houston Christian

The Colts drafted Titus Leo in the 6th round last year out of Wagner. Jalyx Hunt fits the same type of profile as an undersized, raw, small school pass rusher with lots of room for growth. Defensive end talent is becoming an increasingly valuable commodity, so players with Hunt’s profile will get pushed up the draft board more dramatically.

Dane Brugler recently mentioned on the Prospects to Pros podcast that the Houston Christian defender could go as early as the third round. That may seem a little rich, but if Brugler said it, then an area scout probably mentioned they had a late day 2 grade on him. If Hunt is there with the Colts fourth round pick, it shouldn’t surprise Colts fans if Chris Ballard pulled the trigger. The more darts thrown at the proverbial pass rusher dart board, the greater chance there is at finding a gem.