Colts selected Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher with the No. 135 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

25 April 2026

Boettcher (6’1/233) is a high-volume tackling machine who posted 105 tackles with a strong 90.5 percent tackle rate and 75.0 percent run involvement, consistently living around the football. He added 11 havoc plays with 4 TFLs and flashed situational pressure ability with 8 pressures on 51 rushes (15.7 percent pressure rate), highlighting his downhill trigger. Boettcher’s 7.14 RAS reflects solid, well-rounded athleticism (4.69s forty, 34.5” vertical) without standout traits, but his instincts and processing speed drive his production. He shows playmaker flashes in coverage with 1 interception and 4 PBUs, though his tendency to overrun fits and struggle disengaging from blocks creates inconsistency. Boettcher projects as a “see ball, get ball” WILL linebacker whose tackling efficiency and motor give him early special teams value with developmental starter upside. Boettcher was also selected in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Astros, but chose to remain in school for 2025. The 2026 NFL Draft’s ESPN broadcast tells us that the Astros will continue holding his baseball contract rights for now.