Colts new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo would be thrilled if the war room could discover multiple future starters in this year’s draft class, including a player with unlimited range to expand the playbook. Campbell is an aggressive tackler in the open field and has the speed to become a solid defender in pass coverage, which were both issues the Colts dealt with from its linebackers last season.
With two weeks before the 2025 NFL Draft, Indianapolis’ war room has organized its big board to help decide which prospect is set to become the next player to sport the horseshoe.
There is no Nostradamus who can predict the first 13 players to get the call before the Colts, who sit currently with the No. 14 overall pick. Last April, the historical draft in Detroit featured a record-setting 14 consecutive offensive players drafted. Colts GM Chris Ballard was exhilarated to take the first defensive player off the board in edge rusher Laiatu Latu.
Chris Ballard in the war room laughing after selecting Laiatu Latu at 15:
“We got the best **** rusher in the draft.” pic.twitter.com/5XYCuZJqeA
— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) April 28, 2024
Indianapolis must rebuild its unit following the departures of two linebackers as E.J. Speed signed a one-year $5 million deal with the Houston Texans and Grant Stuard landed with the Detroit Lions. The Colts are searching for an outside linebacker to pair alongside Second-Team All-Pro linebacker Zaire Franklin. Last April, the Colts used a fifth-round draft pick to select outside linebacker Jaylon Carlies, who should compete for the starting job from OTAs through training camp.
If Alabama standout linebacker Jihaad Campbell is available with the No. 14 overall pick, the Colts should consider selecting the top linebacker in the 2025 draft class to elevate the defensive unit. Campbell earned first-team All-SEC after his phenomenal junior campaign. In 13 games, Campbell led Alabama with 117 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles. His 65 stops ranked third among all linebackers, per Pro Football Focus.
#Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell is the prototype at the position. Three traits that provide him with the potential to be a long-term starter in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/kbF22d9OgL
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) March 23, 2025
The former five-star recruit out of IMG Academy showcased his athleticism at the NFL scouting combine inside Lucas Oil Stadium after he ran a 4.52 40-yard dash (third among linebackers) and posted a 10-foot-7 broad jump (second among linebackers). At just 21-years-old, Campbell posted a 9.87 RAS score, which ranked 41st out of 3,182 linebackers that have competed at the NFL Scouting Combine since 1987.
Colts new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo would be thrilled if the war room could discover multiple future starters in this year’s draft class, including a player with unlimited range to expand the playbook. Campbell is an aggressive tackler in the open field and has the speed to become a solid defender in pass coverage, which were both issues the Colts dealt with from its linebackers last season. Campbell missed just 5.9% of his tackles, which was tied for the tenth-lowest missed tackle rate among qualified linebackers.
Indianapolis must search for depth to add competition to its linebacker unit after switching up the free agency approach this offseason to upgrade its secondary. Keep in mind Campbell confirmed he underwent shoulder surgery in March to repair a torn labrum suffered after the scouting combine. If Campbell begins to slip to the middle of the first round, the Colts would be thrilled to land a stout run stopper, natural pass rusher and a versatile chess piece to elevate their revamped defense to new heights.