Carson Beck and Colts Pick CJ Allen in No. 53 Draft Move
carson beck is part of a draft night picture that kept shifting Thursday as the Indianapolis Colts used the No. 53 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Georgia linebacker CJ Allen. Former Colts punter Pat McAfee announced the selection after Indianapolis moved into the spot in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The pick adds a defensive piece to a Round 2 board that was still moving as the night unfolded in Eastern Time.
Colts make their move at No. 53
The Colts’ choice of CJ Allen came in Round 2, with the team using the pick acquired through the trade with Pittsburgh. The announcement came from Pat McAfee, giving the selection a familiar Indianapolis voice at the podium. The move placed Allen among a run of defensive and offensive additions across the middle of the draft.
In the same draft window, several other teams made their own Round 2 decisions. The Seattle Seahawks chose a TCU Horned Frogs player at No. 64. The Los Angeles Chargers selected Florida guard Jake Slaughter at No. 63 through a trade with the New England Patriots. The Los Angeles Rams took Ohio State tight end Max Klare at No. 61, and the Chicago Bears added Iowa center Logan Jones at No. 57.
What the pick means in the moment
The Colts’ selection stands out because it came through a trade and landed at a point in the draft where teams were balancing immediate needs with long-term value. CJ Allen gives Indianapolis a linebacker from Georgia, and the choice arrives in a class where defense remained a clear priority for multiple clubs.
The surrounding picks show how active Round 2 became. Tennessee added Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. at No. 60 through a trade with Chicago. Cleveland used No. 58 on Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren after a trade with San Francisco. Houston selected Michigan tight end Marlin Klein at No. 59, while Jacksonville went with Texas A& M tight end Nate Boerkircher at No. 56.
Immediate reaction around the board
Pat McAfee, former Indianapolis Colts punter, delivered the Colts’ selection of CJ Allen on the broadcast stage, giving the moment a direct link to the franchise’s past. That announcement framed the pick as one of the clearest Indianapolis moments in a draft that featured a long list of new names and fresh team fits.
The draft also carried a wider storyline elsewhere on the board. The New England Patriots selected Illinois linebacker Gabe Jacas at No. 55, the Philadelphia Eagles took Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers at No. 54, and Minnesota picked Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday at No. 51. Tampa Bay chose Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter at No. 46, while the New York Jets used the No. 2 pick on Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey.
Context from a busy Round 2
This stage of the draft has already shown how quickly teams can pivot when trades open up new options. The Colts used that flexibility to secure CJ Allen, while other clubs made similarly aggressive moves to get their preferred players in place.
For Indianapolis, the key detail is simple: a traded pick turned into CJ Allen, and the selection was made in Round 2 with No. 53. As more picks follow in Eastern Time, the Colts will continue to be judged by how well this move fits the rest of their draft class, including carson beck as part of the broader conversation around the night.
