The Indianapolis Colts continue to add to the linebacker group in the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher with the 135th overall selection.
Boettcher recorded 136 total tackles in his final season with the Ducks, with whom he played his entire collegiate career. In four seasons, the newest member of the Colts logged 269 tackles (16 for loss), 4 sacks and 10 pass deflections.
The linebacker received a 73.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus for his performance in the 2025 season.
Bryce Boettcher is the second linebacker the Colts have taken in this draft, having selected Georgia’s CJ Allen in the second round with the 53rd overall pick.
Analyst Gives Insight On Newest Colts Linebacker
GettyBryce Boettcher at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
Bryce Boettcher is the fourth member of the Oregon Ducks to be selected in this year’s draft class.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein had some positive remarks for the linebacker, but limits his potential as a backup rather than as immediate help.
“Two-sport standout at Oregon who passed on a chance to start his baseball career, choosing to pursue an NFL opportunity instead. The former walk-on plays like the chip never left his shoulder. He’s fearless in his downhill approach, which leads to feast-or-famine results in the run game,” Zierlein wrote.
“His size, speed and athleticism are average, but his competitive will and motor cover some of that up. Boettcher profiles as an NFL backup but his special-teams talent could be his ticket to a higher draft slotting.”
Part of the reason the Colts parted ways with a member of the 2025 linebacker room was due to their poor performances in coverage.
Boettcher, on the other hand, has been a notable coverage linebacker in his time with Oregon. PFF has Boettcher with a 73.3 coverage grade and a 69.3 pass rating when targeted.
Zaire Franklin, one of the more notable Colts linebackers in recent memory, was a seventh-round selection, so it should not be counted out that Bryce Boettcher can provide a lot more for Indianapolis than expected.
Colts Fixing Linebacker Room
GettyThe Indianapolis Colts linebacker room lost some notable players
Bryce Boettcher and CJ Allen will have some big shoes to fill in the 2026 season, filling in for Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt.
The former linebacker duo had the second and third-most tackles on the team last season, accounting for 221 tackles. Franklin was traded to the Green Bay Packers to create cap space to retain Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, with Pratt on a one-year deal.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard said at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine that the team aimed to get younger and faster in the defensive front seven. Now, two of the Colts draft picks of this year’s draft class have been addressing that issue for Lou Anarumo and his defense.
“I do think there’s a real strength in the third, fourth and fifth rounds,” Ballard said, via the Colts. “[I] always feel that there’s players at every level of the draft, and it’s our job to go find them.”
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