COLTS DL PREVIEW: DeForest Buckner Could Make All the Difference

The Indianapolis Colts are counting on depth to be the engine that powers their defensive line, rather than sure things at the top of the group.

Laiatu Latu needs to take another step forward. Either Arden Key or Jaylahn Tuimoloau needs to win a starting role by truly being the better player. Grover Stewart needs to avoid a slowdown in his age-33 season.

However, arguably the biggest X-factor is how effective DeForest Buckner will be as he returns from neck surgery at 32. Buckner has been the heart and soul of the Colts' defense since 2020, but injuries have become an issue in recent seasons, and it's questionable how much that will improve at his age.

The Colts added several potential role players this offseason to provide insurance behind the starters, so here's what to expect from the Colts' defensive line in 2026.

Laiatu Latu, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Arden Key

The Colts believe Latu will take the necessary step forward to generate a consistent pass rush. Having their man-cover corners healthy will help, but they expect Latu to be as disruptive as ever.

The race to start opposite Latu appears to be between Key and Tuimoloau. Key received the majority of the first-team reps that the media observed during OTAs and minicamp, but when the pads come on during training camp will be truly telling. On top of the three preseason games, the Colts will also have three joint practices with two other teams, so ideally, they'll feel good about whomever gets the bigger role.

Inside, Stewart has been as solid as they come, and luckily, defensive tackles tend to age well. Buckner, however, is the big question. He suffered a herniated disc in his neck in Week 9, spent a stint on Injured Reserve before returning in Week 16. He reaggravated the injury and then opted for surgery, officially ending his season. He did not physically participate in the Colts' offseason program, and he and the team were noncommittal about a timeline for his return, though the hope is that he's available for Week 1.

Jaylahn Tuimoloau, Micheal Clemons, George Gumbs Jr., Caden Curry, Colby Wooden, Adetomiwa Adebawore

Tuimoloau could find himself as a starter, but for now in this exercise, he's the first edge off the bench. He played just 215 snaps last year as a rookie, but his game in college was based on power and being able to stop the run before he developed into a solid pass rusher. He may wind up being a better run defender than Key, which could eventually tip the scales in his favor.

Like Tuimoloau, Clemons is a bigger edge who can move inside in certain subpackages. Gumbs and Curry are two Day 3 rookie draft picks whose impact may be more on special teams in year one.

At tackle, Wooden may play significant snaps in relief of Buckner. The Colts traded linebacker Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers for Wooden, which was not an insignificant move. Adebawore is a fourth-year player who has steadily gotten better each season and seems to provide one explosive "wow" play every week. How often they can get Wooden and Adebawore on the field behind Buckner will be a tough situation to figure out.

Durell Nchami, Mitchell Melton, Derrick Nnadi, Jerry Tillery, Tim Smith, Cam Ball

Nchami and Melton might be destined for the practice squad, but any of Nnadi, Tillery, Smith, or Ball could make the roster as the backup one-tech to Stewart. Nnadi and Tillery are a pair of long-in-the-tooth veterans whose best days are in the past, so the Colts will want either Smith or Ball to show them something worth keeping around.