Caden Curry is going home.
The Indianapolis Colts selected the Greenwood, Indiana, native with the No. 214 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL draft, making the former Ohio State defensive end the 10th Buckeye off the board in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Colts’ selection of Curry was years in the making, as Colts general manager Chris Ballard watched Curry play at Center Grove High School and actually called Ohio State coach Ryan Day to tell him the Buckeyes should recruit Curry.
When Caden Curry was a recruit at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana, Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard called Ryan Day and said Man, have you seen this kid?
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 25, 2026
Today, Ballard and the Colts selected Curry with the No. 214 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. pic.twitter.com/wvmCUqAtoq
It’s the second year in a row Ohio State has had double-digit draft selections.
Curry is the third Ohio State defensive end selected in the last two NFL drafts, joining JT Tuimoloau – also drafted by the Colts with the No. 45 overall pick in last year’s draft – and Jack Sawyer (No. 123 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025). Curry is the second Ohio State defensive lineman to be selected in the 2026 NFL draft, joining defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, who the Houston Texans drafted in Round 2 (No. 36 overall).
Ohio State's 2026 NFL Draft Picks
- Carnell Tate: Round 1, No. 4, Tennessee Titans
- Arvell Reese: Round 1, No. 5, New York Giants
- Sonny Styles: Round 1, No. 7, Washington Commanders
- Caleb Downs: Round 1, No. 11, Dallas Cowboys
- Kayden McDonald: Round 2, No. 36, Houston Texans
- Max Klare: Round 2, No. 61, Los Angeles Rams
- Davison Igbinosun: Round 2, No. 62, Buffalo Bills
- Will Kacmarek: Round 3, No. 87. Miami Dolphins
- Lorenzo Styles Jr.: Round 5, No. 172, New Orleans Saints
- Caden Curry: Round 6, No. 214, Indianapolis Colts
Curry spent three years learning behind Sawyer and Tuimoloau at defensive end to start his Ohio State career, though he carved out rotational roles in the Buckeyes’ defense in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, Curry got his chance to start and capitalized.
Curry racked up 66 tackles with 16.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks for Ohio State's No. 1-ranked defense in 2025. His relentless motor, athleticism and savvy gave offensive tackles headaches throughout the year, as he recorded a team-high 46 total pressures of opposing quarterbacks, per Pro Football Focus.
The Buckeyes have now produced 12 total draft picks at defensive end since Larry Johnson took over as defensive line coach ahead of the 2014 season and 2015 NFL draft, with three top-three selections headlining the pack: Nick Bosa in 2019 (No. 2 overall, 49ers), Chase Young in 2020 (No. 2 overall, Commanders) and Joey Bosa in 2016 (No. 3 overall, Chargers).
Curry might not have had the measurables to be an early-round pick, but his production could make him a steal for the Colts in the later stages of the draft. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the conference's media and second-team All-Big Ten by its coaches in 2025.
Curry is the 10th Buckeye selected in the 2026 draft, joining first-round selections Carnell Tate (No. 4 overall, Titans), Arvell Reese (No. 5, Giants), Sonny Styles (No. 7, Commanders) and Caleb Downs (No. 11, Cowboys), second-round selections McDonald, Max Klare (No. 61, Rams) and Davison Igbinosun (No. 62, Bills), third-round pick Will Kacmarek (No. 87, Dolphins) and fifth-round pick Lorenzo Styles Jr. (No. 172, Saints).
Curry is the seventh player from Ohio State’s 2025 defense to be selected in the 2026 NFL draft. Ohio State has now had 15 defensive players selected in the last two drafts.
