Source: CFP / Getty
INDIANAPOLIS – Lou Anarumo continued to get some key attention on his side of the ball during the 2025 Draft.
Although the defensive focus this offseason still includes a question at linebacker.
Here’s a capsule look at the Colts four picks on defense in 2025:
1. Round 2, Pick 45: Ohio State Defensive End JT Tuimoloau (6-4, 264)
Source:Getty
-2024 Stats: 16 games played (16 starts). Finished with 61 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 3 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles
-Career Stats: 55 games played (42 starts). Finished with 144 tackles, 43.5 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, 12 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles
-Interesting Fact: Was a 3-time 1st Team All-Big Ten performer.
-Chris Ballard’s Thoughts: “He’s more outside, but they kick him inside on third down at Ohio State. I felt really fortunate to get him – I think everybody would tell you that in our room. There was a three-game stretch in the playoffs that I think he ended up having like 6.5 sacks between Tennessee, Texas and Notre Dame, where he was outstanding. Yeah, he’s got some unique qualities. He’s a big guy. He’s a really good athlete. He can bend, he knows how to rush. He’s got good length. We’re excited to get him.”
-Outlook: When Lou Anarumo came over from the Bengals, the Colts knew the defensive line would be scouted differently. And the Colts gave their new defensive coordinator some early attention with this second-round pick. Think of Tuimoloau in the mold as a high-motor, powerful edge rusher, showing disruption on all three downs. While the Colts have some current bodies at defensive end (Kwity Paye, Laiatu Latu, Samson Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis), only Latu is under contract past the 2025 season.
2. Round 3, Pick 80: Minnesota Cornerback Justin Walley (5-10, 190)
Source:Getty
-2024 Stats: 10 games played (10 starts).
-Career Stats: 49 games played (42 starts)
-Interesting Fact: Walley is the cousin of former Colts wide receiver Donte Moncrief.
-Ballard’s Quote to Note: “He’s freaking good. He is. He is really good. Let me tell you this, he’s got a wrist (injury) right now. He broke his wrist. In a time when people don’t want to work out. I mean, we have guys ducking it. He does everything with a wrist and runs 4.37, with a cast on his wrist. He does everything, every drill, and it shows up on tape. You are talking about a 40-game starter in the Big 10. The USC game is what did it for me. Like at the end of the USC game, he made some game-winning stops in coverage. He’s athletic, he’s fast, he can play outside and in. He gives us a lot of flexibility, plus he’s got top flight football character and character. So, he was a really good fit for us.”
-Outlook: It is extremely odd to see Chris Ballard draft a 5-10 cornerback, let alone on Day 2 of the draft. But that’s what he did here with Justin Walley from Minnesota. There’s a thought with Walley of some position flexibility in playing outside or inside at cornerback. And new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is going to be one who plays more defensive backs in third-down sub packages. While Walley is short and doesn’t offset that with long arms, those around the NFL do love his twitchiness and instincts, with nice ball production from his 4 years of starting. The 2025 plan for Walley doesn’t look to have obvious playing time right away, but depth there has been tested (and oftentimes failed) in the past.
3. Round 6, Pick 190: Alabama Defensive Tackle Tim Smith (6-4, 306)
Source:Getty
-2024 Stats: 13 career games played (13 starts). Had 35 tackles (8 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 1 pass defensed and 1 fumble recoery.
-Career Stats: 64 career games played (32 starts). Had 124 tackles (49 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble.
-Interesting Fact: Played in double-digit games in all 5 of his seasons at Alabama (playing 64 career games).
-Ballard’s Quote to Note: “We think he can play the one and the three (technique). One of the good things was our coaches had him at the Senior Bowl. So they got live exposure to one, coaching him for the entire week. And then the personality, who he was and what his talent level is. So, we’re excited to get him. I could feel our defensive staff around the fifth round start circling because they were pretty driven to get Tim, as we were. We think he’s got a lot of upside.”
-Outlook: If you have watched the Colts in recent years, you could see the steep drop off the Colts endured at defensive tackle when Groer Stewart and/or DeForest Buckner weren’t on the field. The Colts are trying some new faces in those spots, with Naville Gallimore in free agency and Smith in the draft. Smith is probably more of a Stewart backup, given the makeup of the Colts roster. These late defensive picks for the Colts walk into a building where the depth chart offers some definite windows to earn a roster spot.
4. Round 7, Pick 232: Wisconsin Safety/Linebacker Hunter Wohler (6-2, 213)
Source:Getty
-2024 Stats: 43 career games played (25 starts). Had 229 tackles (150 solo), 11.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 16 passes defensed and 3 interceptions.
-2024 Stats: 11 career games played (11 starts). Had 71 tackles (51 solo), 1.0 tackles for loss, 6 passes defensed.
-Interesting Fact: Led Wisconsin in tackles each of the last two seasons.
-Ballard’s Quote to Note: “We listed him as a linebacker. He’s play a little bit of both.”
-Outlook: The evolvement of the NFL game has turned several college safeties into NFL linebackers and the Colts are trying that for a second straight draft. With new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, the Colts will play more guys in their nickel/dime sub packages, so Wohler will potentially get a chance there. Safety depth and linebacker depth is wide open for the Colts. So, like Smith, this is a pretty good landing spot for a 7th round pick. Plus, the Colts are trying to fill some special teams reps gone from last year. Given the depth chart, this isn’t a 7th round pick that I’m writing off.