LIVE UPDATES: Colts back on the clock in final day of NFL Draft
(updated Saturday, April 27 at 7:29 p.m.)
Seventh Round, 234th Overall Pick
The Colts final pick of the day goes to Oklahoma defensive tackle Jonah Laulu. He’s an experienced playmakers, playing four years at Hawaii and two more with the Sooners. He measures 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds and can affect plays from both the tackle and end positions.
Sixth Round, 201st Overall Pick
After trading back into the sixth round Saturday afternoon, the Colts snagged cornerback Micah Abraham from Marshall as the 201st overall pick. He’s had 10 interceptions in the last two years with The Herd. Ballard continues to bolster the secondary after staying away from those positions the first two days of the draft.
Fifth Round, 164th Overall Pick
After moving down after a trade with the Eagles, Ballard and the Colts selected Auburn safety Jaylin Simpson with the 201st overall pick. The 6-foot, 179-pound player picked off four passes for the Tigers last season – a career-high. He has experience playing cornerback, as well.
“Emotions are everywhere right now, and I’m just blessed and thankful,” Simpson said. “I’m just ready to get to work and continue to show why I feel like I was one of the best in this draft. So I got a lot to prove still, so just ready to get to work in Indy.”
Fifth Round, 155th Overall Pick
The Colts are moving down again for the second time this Draft. Ballard and company took a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, dropping the Colts down nine spots for their last pick in the fifth round. Indy also gains the 201st overall pick, getting Ballard back in the sixth round after trading that pick away Friday night to move up in the third round.
The Colts now have three picks remaining — one in the fifth (164th overall), one in the sixth (201st overall) and one in the seventh (234th overall).
Fifth Round, 151st Overall Pick
In an offense-heavy draft, the Colts picked their second defensive player in the fifth round — the first since taking Laiatu Latu 15th overall. Missouri safety Jaylon Carlies was selected 151st overall by the Horseshoe.
The Mizzou defensive standout is 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds. His size and speed combination make him fit more of the profile of a linebacker — which is what the Colts officially listed him as on the roster.
“I’m comfortable playing either spot, and I think that’s another reason why they took their chance with me, as well,” Carlies said. “Just knowing that I’m somebody who would be comfortable showing my versatility playing linebacker, as well.”
Carlies had nine interceptions over the last three years playing safety for the Tigers. Last season, he led the team with 64 tackles.
“(The Colts) took a chance on me, so I’m going to make sure I pay them back the best way I can,” Carlies said.
Fifth Round, 142nd Overall Pick
For the second time in this year’s draft, Ballard selected a wide receiver from the talented offensive pool. Oregon State star Anthony Gould comes to Indy as the 142nd overall pick. At 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds, Gould is a small, shifty slot receiver who averaged 16.2 yards a catch with the Beavers.
In 2022, he led all FBS with 18.6 yards per punt return. He also returned two for touchdowns.
Gould is excited to join the Colts and work with and learn from legendary receiver Reggie Wayne.
“I’m coming in day one ready to learn and just pick his brain,” Gould said. “He’s one of the best to ever do it.”
Ballard also drafted Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell in the second round on Friday night; however, Mitchell’s skills are more at the wide out position. With his speed and athleticism, he can stretch the field and be a serious deep threat for quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Fourth Round, 117th Overall Pick
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After an active Friday night of trades up — and down — the Indianapolis Colts and general manager Chris Ballard had five picks to play entering into the final day of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Ballard started off Saturday drafting Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin’s center, in the fourth round at 117th overall. Bortolini joins a Colts offense that features another well-loved former Badger in running back Jonathan Taylor. Ballard also was a wide receiver for the Badgers.
Bortolini’s biggest asset will be his versatility. Among his 28 starts his senior year on the Badgers front line, he had 13 at center, eight at left guard, three at right guard, three at right tackle and one at tight end. Bortolini doesn’t care where on the Colts offensive line he gets to play. He just wants to be in the mix.
“I think right now I can be a versatile swing guy, whatever they need me to be,” Bortolini said. “I feel like anywhere on the interior, I’m very capable of playing and playing at a high level. Whatever they see as the long-term plan for me, I’m more than excited to be a part of, and I think I can really be a guy that finds a lot of long-term success and really solidify myself in one of those starting jobs — that I can do it and do it at a high level.”
The Colts will be on the clock three times in the fifth round and will have one pick in the seventh. Follow along to WISH-TV on air and online for the latest Colts news as the Draft continues.