Colts draft pick profiles: Everything to know about LB Bryce Boettcher

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May 5, 2026 - 17:30
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Colts draft pick profiles: Everything to know about LB Bryce Boettcher

With the 135th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher.

Here is everything you need to know.

Profile

  • Height: 6-012
  • Weight: 233
  • Age: 23

Bryce Boettcher's Oregon bio

Quick breakdown

Boettcher played over 1,200 snaps the last two seasons, including nearly 800 in 2025. He's been a reliable tackler during the span, allowing him to grade out well by PFF's metrics. That ability also helped him limit plays in the passing game, surrendering just 6.0 yards per catch last season, along with forcing an interception and three pass breakups.

Bryce Boettcher's athletic profile

Scouting report on Bryce Boettcher

"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. 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." -  Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

They said it

GM Chris Ballard: "We took Bryce from Oregon and another linebacker, athletic, fast. A blue card guy for us, a really special dude. I mean, here's a guy he was drafted by the Astros, ended up walking on, earning it, and has been just a tremendous player for University of Oregon."

Colts' scout Kasia Omilian: "I think Chris has talked about it too, wanting to make the locker room edge year, wanting to improve toughness, wanting to improve competitiveness, right? He does that. He fits all three categories with the way he prepares, but also the way he plays the game. I think the instincts are the best in terms of what he does. They redeem a lot. and I think his buy into special teams early on in his career has already shown that, but what that projects to for us in the league and for us specifically is a big part of what's going to cause him to succeed."

Bryce Boettcher's fit with the Colts

Boettcher bolsters the depth and adds competition at linebacker. The Colts believe he can play both the MIKE and WILL positions, but with CJ Allen on the roster, Boettcher should compete for the WILL linebacker role with Akeem Davis-Gaither.

Bryce Boettcher highlights

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Full breakdown of new Colts' LB Bryce Boettcher

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