FLEX 2025 Mock Draft: Ace the Colts first 3 draft picks

Ace the Indianapolis Colts three-round mock draft before the combine commences inside the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. 

The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine returns to downtown Indianapolis this week as club executives plan to meet, interview, test and evaluate the nation’s best prospects while orchestrating their unique offseason approach for the upcoming season. Indianapolis has hosted the scouting combine since 1987, with the exception of the 2021 cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With two weeks before free agency begins on March 12, NFL war rooms will focus on specific positions at the scouting combine and lay out a diagram of their draft board. The 2025 NFL Draft has been tagged as an event to claim a collection of starters and the Colts can use the next two months to fill the necessary holes on the depth chart.

Ace the Indianapolis Colts three-round mock draft before the combine commences inside the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium.

It will be the second consecutive season that the best tight end prospect is connected to Indianapolis. The Colts were two picks shy from reeling in Brock Bowers last April, who capped off his AP First-Team All-Pro rookie season with the most receptions and receiving yards by a rookie in NFL history. The four horsemen that the Colts ultimately cycled through at tight end combined for 29 catches on 75 targets in 2024, while Mo Ali-Cox and Drew Ogletree reached the end zone just once in 17 games.

First-Team All-American tight end Tyler Warren has the highest ceiling of any skill position prospect the Colts could draft in the middle of the first round. Warren wrecked through opponents leading Penn State to the program’s first college football playoff appearance. If Warren is available at No. 14 overall, Indianapolis should select him to address the emanating issues at tight end.

The 2024 John Mackey Award winner, earned by the nation’s top tight end, caught 104 passes for 1,233 receiving yards, stamping his name in the record books for most receiving yards by a tight end in Big Ten history. Warren set Penn State career record for tight ends with 22 total touchdowns, including 16 receiving TDs.

One of Warren’s best traits is his reliability to secure catches in traffic. Warren hauled in 62% of contested catches and posted a low 2.8% drop rate.

Warren’s impressive tape features traits every NFL team could desire from a pass catching tight end. Stout blocking ability, combined with his phenomenal awareness to snag the jump ball or hurdle over defenders in the open field and at the goal line should make teams eager to see him available in the middle of the first round. How often does a 260-pound freight train take a direct snap untouched for a 48-yard rushing touchdown? Warren is an astounding athlete whose massive 6-6 frame will serve him well in the pros.

If the Colts were to land one player from the Notre Dame draft class that reached the pinnacle of the College Football Playoff, safety Xavier Watts is an excellent candidate. Watts is a true ball hawk that should be targeted by the Colts in Day 2 of the NFL Draft.

Watts led the nation securing 13 interceptions across the last two seasons, without allowing a touchdown or committing a single penalty. One of five Notre Dame captains to command the defense that allowed opposing QBs to complete just 52% of passes, which was the lowest percentage in the nation. The Notre Dame grad earned a Unanimous All-American selection in 2023 and Consensus All-American selection in 2024.

Watts anchored the dominant Fighting Irish secondary, evidenced best by his 89.5 Pro Football Focus coverage grade, which ranked second among safeties in the 2025 Draft Class. PFF ranked Watts as the No. 16 best college football player from the 2024 season.

Watts’ highlight reel features an aggressive playmaker with immaculate instincts and the range to cover the field in a variety of alignments. The 6-foot, 203-pound defensive back has an innate ability to make the game-changing play from week-to-week. In the rivalry game against USC, Watts returned an interception at the goal line 100 yards to the house for his first pick-six and second career touchdown.

Indianapolis must fix the lack of depth in the secondary and should prioritize adding Xavier Watts or Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas ahead of April’s draft. Both would create real competition for the Colts starting jobs during training camp. What makes Thomas so intriguingly valuable in Day 2 of the draft is he possesses all the traits to potentially thrive in the NFL at just 20-years-old. Thomas, the younger brother of Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas, is a physical defensive back who willingly pulls the trigger to deliver a major blow in the open field.

After three years at Florida State, Thomas opted to forgo his senior year of eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft. Thomas posted a 76.4 defensive grade in 2024 and improved his defensive grades in all three years with the Seminoles, per PFF. Thomas allowed just 141 receiving yards and averaged 10.1 snaps per target in 2024, which ranked third among qualified FBS cornerbacks. Thomas finished second for Florida State with 52 tackles, recorded four pass deflections and one interception.

Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo can maximize Thomas’ potential by developing his press man coverage. With a lengthy, 6-2 build, Thomas can hang with the best opposing wide receivers. He does not shy from contact and takes on blockers to stop opposing running backs from cutting upfield.

With stellar tackling mechanics would help improve the Colts two biggest issues on the defensive side of the football, tackling and giving up explosive plays downfield. Thomas projects as a Day 2 prospect who could race up big boards with a solid performance at the scouting combine.

Last offseason, the Colts did not add a single starter — who started over half of the season — though free agency or the draft. There must be a significantly different approach to help end the playoff drought in Indy.