The 91st annual NFL draft is officially underway in Pittsburgh, and the Indianapolis Colts are still on the clock. Originally, the Colts were slotted to pick 47th, but traded with Pittsburgh to move back five spots. With the 53rd overall pick, the Colts selected linebacker CJ Allen from the University of Georgia in the second round and A.J. Haulcy 78th overall in the third round.

Even with this selection, the Colts will have five more selections to make, pending they do not trade any picks. There are still four rounds remaining in the draft, the rest to be held Saturday, April 25, at 12 p.m.

Going into the draft, it was clear the Colts needed defensive players. While the Colts made 11 additions during free agency, several key contributors were lost. The defense took the biggest impact, losing multiple starters. The offense returned key talent, including quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce. However, it did lose wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers.

The Colts have multiple gaps they need to fill with their draft picks, both on the offensive and defensive ends. The defensive needs are more pressing as most of the impactful players ended up being traded, including defensive end Kwity Paye, safety Nick Cross and linebacker Zaire Franklin.

A receiver will also be necessary to replace Pittman and give Jones more options. If the Colts want to create a dynamic offense, they will need to have multiple threats available. Pierce is an elite athlete, and Jonathan Taylor is capable of scoring in any situation. However, the more options there are on the field, the less attention there will be on those other stars.

With seven picks, the Colts have the chance to fill most of the positions they need, to some degree. Whether or not these rookies will be game-ready in their first years will be up to them and the organization.

Allen played three years for UGA, where he recorded 205 total tackles and was an Associated Press All-American. His combined ratings were average, with most of the reports saying that he is not a flashy player, but is a solid force on defense with the potential to be a leader. It is a position the Colts desperately needed and a solid choice to fill it. Allen would have experienced high-level competition playing at a powerhouse SEC school, which should be able to transition well to the next level.

Haulcy once again fulfills a missing piece in the roster. A safety, Haulcy adds depth to a unit that desperately needs it. Haulcy played four years, ending his career at LSU, where he recorded 89 total tackles in one season. He totaled 346 in his collegiate career and was first-team All-SEC in his final year. He finished with good combine results, even ranking No.1 in total score amongst wide receivers according to Next Gen Stats.

The Colts have had a strong start to the draft and are showing they know what needs to be fixed. With two defensive picks, they are starting to repair the holes that players lost in free agency. There is still a lot of time till the season starts, but the Colts are making the correct decisions and building the strong team they planned to.