Bryce Boettcher NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Indianapolis Colts LB

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

Bryce Boettcher has one of the most unique athletic profiles in the entire 2026 NFL draft class, since he's already been drafted in one professional sports league. In 2024, the dual-sport athlete was selected as an outfielder in the 13th round of the MLB draft by the Houston Astros.

That athleticism shows up on the gridiron, giving Boettcher a chance to contribute as a coverage linebacker and on special teams if he chooses to pursue a football career.

The Eugene, Oregon, native spent his first two years on campus exclusively on the baseball diamond before the Ducks hired head coach Dan Lanning, and Lanning held an open tryout for students to walk on to the football team. That's how Boettcher got to put on a helmet at Autzen Stadium.

He contributed as a backup safety/linebacker and special teamer in 2022 and 2023 before bursting onto the scene the following year. He racked up 94 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, and four passes defended to earn Second-Team All-Big Ten honors and the Burlsworth Trophy.

This season, Boettcher opted to delay his professional baseball career and logged 104 tackles, four TFLs, a sack, an interception, and four PDs, en route to another Second-Team All-Big Ten selection.

Matt Holder has been a part of B/R's Scouting Department for four seasons. He also writes about the Las Vegas Raiders and NFL draft for SB Nation's Silver and Black Pride, and co-hosts a YouTube Channel, Tape Don't Lie, providing film breakdowns and more draft prospect analysis.

Highlights

Bryce Boettcher Highlights

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Scroll down for the full scouting report.

Where He Wins

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- Boettcher is a good overall athlete, evidenced by his success as a dual-sport college athlete. Smooth mover who has the change of direction and speed to cover tight ends man-to-man.

- Constant pre-snap communicator, takes command of the defense, and makes sure everyone is on the same page.

- Good eyes and movement skills to tighten throwing windows in zone coverage or pick up his man on scramble drills.

- Outfielder background shows up in his ball tracking skills, allowing him to bat passes out of the air.

- Decent instincts against the run, he's solid at recognizing when he can shoot gaps and at mirroring running backs in the backfield. Lateral movement skills help with the latter, too.

- Can use his athletic ability to sift through the trash or make offensive linemen miss in space.

- Solid sideline-to-sideline range.

Areas of Improvement

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- Boettcher is on the smaller side for an NFL linebacker and has short arms.

- Older prospect, he'll be a 24-year-old rookie.

- Lacks strength to hold his ground against offensive linemen in the running game. He's even struggled when taking on blocks from bigger tight ends.

- Below-average upper body strength and lack of length lead to limited extension and his getting stuck on blocks.

- Doesn't have much pop behind his pads when coming downhill, and often gives up extra yards after contact when tackling running backs.

- Combination of being older and lacking strength could lead to teams viewing him as a low-ceiling type of prospect.

Grade, Rank, and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 6.4 (Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: Brian Asamoah II, Oklahoma (6.4 in 2022), Amen Ogbongbemiga, Oklahoma State (6.3 in 2021), Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington (6.2 in 2024)

OVERALL RANK: 177

POSITION RANK: LB13

PRO COMPARISON: Cole Holcomb

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'1"
Weight: 233
Hand: 9"
Arm: 30¾"
Wingspan: 75⅛"

40-Yard Dash: 4.69
10-Yard Split: 1.63
3-Cone: 7.25
Shuttle: 4.30
Vertical: 34.5"
Broad: 9'8"