The Colts lost linebacker Germaine Pratt and traded away Zaire Franklin, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of the defense. Akeem Davis-Gaither is currently expected to start there, and while he racked up 117 tackles for the Arizona Cardinals last season, his two tackles for a loss and zero sacks have to be concerning. With their first pick, which won’t happen until day two of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Colts grab Anthony Hill, Jr., out of Texas.

Hill is a lean 6’2 and 238 pounds. He runs a 4.51 forty and posted a 37″ vertical. Those are the kinds of athletic measurements scouts expect from an edge rusher, more so than a middle linebacker. For the Longhorns last season, he recorded 69 tackles (seven for a loss) and four sacks. He was a second-team All-American and a finalist for the Butkus Award. As can be deduced from his forty time, Hill plays lightning quick between the sidelines, with an ability to sniff out a play before it happens.

Hill finishes through contact on tackles, and doesn’t just hit guys; he tries to bury them at impact. He knows how to use his hands, especially when punching at the ball during tackles, causing eight fumbles during his career for Texas. He does struggle in man-to-man coverage, and coverage in general, for that matter. He has day one talent, and could be a great pick for the Colts at 47.