The Indianapolis Colts have broken their trend of selecting highly athletic players in the 2025 NFL Draft, a strategy that had defined their approach for the previous four years. Known for focusing on prospects with a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) above 8.0, the Colts deviated significantly this year, ranking 22nd in overall athleticism among draft classes.

Despite landing a few high-end athletes, including JT Tuimoloau with a RAS of 9.33 and DJ Giddens at 9.78, the overall class lacked the usual correlation between picks and athletic benchmarks. GM Chris Ballard emphasized toughness in players, suggesting a shift towards valuing grit over pure athleticism. This new direction may have implications for roster construction and the team's on-field strategy moving forward.