Bryce Boettcher selected by Colts in fourth round of NFL Draft: grade, analysis, stats
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Bryce Boettcher selected by Colts in fourth round of NFL Draft: grade, analysis, stats
Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star·Indianapolis Star
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2 min read
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INDIANAPOLIS — Linebacker was clearly the most glaring need for theColtsentering the draft.
Indianapolis traded away long-time middle linebackerZaire Franklin, has allowed weak-side starterGermaine Prattto remain a free agent and brought back only one linebacker,Austin Ajiake, who played more than 100 defensive snaps last season.
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TheColtsresponded by taking two linebackers in their top four picks in the NFL Draft. Indianapolis opened the draft by taking Georgia's CJ Allen, then drafted Oregon's Bryce Boettcher with the 135thoverall pick, the selection the team got from trading back in the second round on Friday night.
Boettcher, a two-sport athlete who also played baseball at Oregon, is an instinctive, run and chase linebacker who produced 136 tackles in his final year with the Ducks, the sixth-most in FBS.
When he was a junior, Boettcher won the Burlsworth Trophy as the nation's top player who began his career as a walk-on.
Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher celebrates the Ducks' victory over James Madison at the end of the game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene Dec. 20, 2025.
(Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard, Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher speaks to reporters during Oregon Pro Day on March 17, 2026, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher competes in the 40-yard dash during Oregon Pro Day on March 17, 2026, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher celebrates his win as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on Nov. 22, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher (LB04) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher knocks down a pass by Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the Oregon Ducks face the Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard)
Jan 28, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; National Team linebacker Bryce Boettcher (46) of Oregon practices during National Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
(Vasha Hunt, Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images)
Nov 8, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) pressures Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) during the second quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
(Jeffrey Becker, Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher wrangles Wisconsin running back Gideon Ituka as the Oregon Ducks host the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 25, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher forces a fumble from Texas Tech running back Cameron Dickey as the Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Nov 22, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Southern California Trojans during the first half at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
(Troy Wayrynen, Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images)
Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) is tackled by Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) during the second quarter in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
(Jordan Prather-Imagn Images)
Jan 1, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Jadon Canady (22) reacts with linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) after an interception by the Ducks against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the 2025 Orange Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
(Sam Navarro, Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
1/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher celebrates the Ducks' victory over James Madison at the end of the game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene Dec. 20, 2025.
(Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard, Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
1/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher celebrates the Ducks' victory over James Madison at the end of the game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene Dec. 20, 2025.
(Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard, Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
2/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher speaks to reporters during Oregon Pro Day on March 17, 2026, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
3/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher competes in the 40-yard dash during Oregon Pro Day on March 17, 2026, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
4/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher celebrates his win as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on Nov. 22, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
5/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher (LB04) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
6/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher knocks down a pass by Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the Oregon Ducks face the Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard)
7/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Jan 28, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; National Team linebacker Bryce Boettcher (46) of Oregon practices during National Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
(Vasha Hunt, Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images)
8/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Nov 8, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) pressures Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) during the second quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
(Jeffrey Becker, Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)
9/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher wrangles Wisconsin running back Gideon Ituka as the Oregon Ducks host the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 25, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
10/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Oregon inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher forces a fumble from Texas Tech running back Cameron Dickey as the Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
11/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Nov 22, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Southern California Trojans during the first half at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
(Troy Wayrynen, Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images)
12/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) is tackled by Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) during the second quarter in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
(Jordan Prather-Imagn Images)
13/13
Photos of Indianapolis Colts fourth-round pick in NFL Draft, Bryce Boettcher
Jan 1, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Jadon Canady (22) reacts with linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) after an interception by the Ducks against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the 2025 Orange Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard said at the NFL owner's meetings that he believed the draft was deep at linebacker, both at the top of the draft and throughout.
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Ballard backed it up by taking two linebackers in the first four rounds.
Boettcher, at first glance, seems like another middle linebacker, potentially making him a backup to Allen, but it is unlikely Indianapolis sees it that way, considering that the Colts were willing to take both players in the top four rounds.
While his physical testing numbers were only middle of the pack, Boettcher's instincts and smarts help him make up for it, and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is the type of coach who will try to find adjustments for each player.
