Which Indianapolis Colts draft picks were the best 'value'?

USA Today

27-04-2025

Which Indianapolis Colts draft picks were the best 'value'? How did the Indianapolis Colts do value-wise in the 2025 NFL draft compared to the consensus big board?
How did the Indianapolis Colts do value-wise in the 2025 NFL draft compared to the consensus big board?
Getting value out of each draft pick is an important part of the draft process as the days unfold. And trying to capture that element can dictate how a team moves about the draft board and who they select.
However, determining "value" in the NFL draft--at least from the outside--is a nearly impossible task.
For one, an NFL team's big board probably looks nothing like the ones we see on the outside. Also, when it comes to judging value, that can be team-specific when discussing a prospect, based on the traits that player possesses or how the team plans to utilize them.
But with that said, in our best effort to glean how much value the Colts were able to derive from this year's draft, we turn to Arif Hasan of Wide Left Football for help.
Each year, Hasan creates a consensus big board that ranks the top 300 players in the class and utilizes 101 different big boards from top draft analysts. As Hasan says, "the consensus of these experts does a better predictive job than individual experts."
So with all that in mind, here is each Colts draft pick, where they were taken, where they were ranked on the consensus big board, and the difference to determine the "value."
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Consensus rank: 7
Pick number: 14
Difference: +7
'He's highly intelligent," said area scout Chad Henry via the Indy Star. "To use him the way that they used him, in all the different spots, you could see the former quarterback in him. When he came into our room at the Combine, he sounded like a coach.
JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Consensus rank: 53
Pick number: 45
Difference: -8
'Tough, durable kid. Big dude, plays hard, I think about him playing his best ball down the stretch in their biggest games. … I think those guys knew what was at stake, I think they knew what they were capable of doing, going on a championship run and everybody just kind of turned it up a notch," area scout Mike Lacy said via the Indy Star.
Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota
Consensus rank: 194
Pick number: 80
Difference: -114
"I don't care where everybody thinks they're going to go – I don't," Chris Ballard said. "We grade them and we take them. We think he's got a chance to be a really good starting corner in this league."
Jalen Travis, OT, Iowa State
Consensus rank: 162
Pick number: 127
Difference: -32
DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State
Consensus rank: 111
Pick number: 151
Difference: +40
Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame
Consensus rank: 179
Pick number: 189
Difference: +10
'He played his best ball down the stretch as well, but I think seeing him one last time, at his Pro Day, watching him in-person, kind of polished-up mechanically, seeing him live, seeing his arm strength, what he has to offer physically, I think that definitely kind of put the stamp on him as a player," area scout Mike Lacy said via the Indy Star.
Tim Smith, DT, Alabama
Consensus rank: 251
Pick number: 190
Difference: -61
Hunter Wohler, LB, Wisconsin
Consensus rank: 202
Pick number: 232
Difference: +30
'With Hunter, the versatility was the key thing, especially later in the draft," said area scout Tyler Hughes. "He's played a lot of down linebacker, he's played strong safety, he's played free safety, he was the punt returner this year, which shows that he's a reliable dude and coaches trust him. Super smart. He's going to be a great special teams player for us."