A look at the Indianapolis Colts' roster made up only of players under contract this year shows that there is quite a bit of work to be done this offseason.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — After missing the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year, the Indianapolis Colts embark on a critical offseason in which ownership put the team's architects on notice that "the sense of urgency for them to deliver and perform has never been higher."
That kind of pressure requires a deep look at what the Colts currently have, what might be walking out the door, and what needs to improve to actually return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Today, we'll examine the Colts' roster as projected for the start of the new league year at 4:00 p.m. ET on Wed., March 11, including only players under contract for the 2026 season, excluding their internal free agents.
QUARTERBACKS
Anthony Richardson Sr., Riley Leonard, Seth Henigan
FA: Daniel Jones
This group will have turnover between now and training camp. Jones is the Colts' highest priority, so all assumptions are that the team will have its starter back. Richardson, however, is likely destined for a fresh start elsewhere. He should have enough interest around the league for the Colts to get some mid to late-round draft compensation for him. That leaves Jones, Leonard, and Henigan as the team's quarterbacks. However, given Jones' recovery from last year's Achilles injury, the Colts may add someone with more of a track record than Henigan, or even Leonard.
RUNNING BACKS
Jonathan Taylor, DJ Giddens, Ulysses Bentley IV
FA: Tyler Goodson, Ameer Abdullah, Salvon Ahmed
Goodson is a restricted free agent, so he'll likely be back, especially given his value on special teams. However, it still seems like the backfield is missing something, as Abdullah played a notable role, but the nearly 33-year-old may be moving on. Giddens was not ready to deliver much as a rookie and seldom saw gamedays because of a lack of special teams usage. With that being the case, the Colts could look to add another cheap veteran runner in free agency who can produce tough yardage.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould, Coleman Owen, Eli Pancol
FA: Alec Pierce, Laquon Treadwell, DJ Montgomery
This is another group that may not look the same up top. Pittman represents a $29 million cap hit, which is the sixth-highest among all NFL receivers in 2026. Pittman is a good player, but his contract is the most obvious area for adjustment for the Colts. One big reason Pittman's contract needs to be revisited is to better afford Pierce, who has led the Colts in receiving yards each of the last two years. Regardless of whether Pittman is a Colt in 2026 or not, the Colts may look to add one more player to replace what they had in AD Mitchell, who they traded to the New York Jets last season.
TIGHT ENDS
Tyler Warren, Will Mallory, Sean McKeon
FA: Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree
Warren is going to dominate the snap share regardless of who else the Colts have at tight end, but they will almost certainly try to bring either or both of Alie-Cox and Ogletree back. Their blocking prowess is revered inside the building. Having a blocking specialist makes the offense more versatile and frees Warren to be used in more advantageous ways.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
OT: Bernhard Raimann, Jalen Travis, Blake Freeland, Bayron Matos, Jack Wilson
IOL: Quenton Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Matt Goncalves, Dalton Tucker, Josh Sills, Bill Murray, Jimmy Morrissey, LaDarius Henderson
FA: Braden Smith, Danny Pinter, Luke Tenuta
The only question mark on the starting offensive line is whether Smith will be re-signed. If not, Jalen Travis is the favorite to step into the right tackle spot, but the Colts would need to add someone to push him for the spot and earn the swing tackle role. In general, the Colts could use at least two more playable depth pieces at tackle and the interior. Backup center Pinter could be re-signed because he'd be cheap, and the team trusts him to start in a pinch.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
DE: Laiatu Latu, JT Tuimoloau, Durell Nchami, Viliami Fehoko Jr.
DT: DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Tim Smith
FA: Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, Neville Gallimore, Tyquan Lewis, Eric Johnson II, Chris Wormley
The most critical area the Colts need to focus on this offseason is the defensive front. Latu is fine as the team's top edge rusher if they had someone on the other side to complement him, which they don't. Tuimoloau struggled to get on the field at times as a rookie, and Nchami was only active when called up from the practice squad due to other injuries. With veterans Paye, Ebukam, and Lewis hitting the market, and the group not being effective enough with them, expect edge to be a huge priority. Inside, Buckner and Stewart will both be 32 years old in 2026, and Buckner is coming off neck surgery. Gallimore would likely be a wise re-signing, but they need more young energy to mix in with Adebawore and Smith.
LINEBACKERS
Zaire Franklin, Austin Ajiake, Jaylon Carlies, John Bullock, Joseph Vaughn, Devin Veresuk
FA: Germaine Pratt, Segun Olubi, Buddy Johnson, Jacob Phillips
After the defensive line, the linebacker position could stand to see the biggest overhaul. You could make an argument that no one on the current roster should be a part of the defense's future (excluding special teams standouts). Franklin took a step back in Lou Anarumo's new defense last year, and the team could add about $5 million in cap space by moving on from him. Carlies was never healthy enough to be what the Colts wanted him to be, and for all we know, Ajiake, Bullock, Vaughn, and Veresuk have a ceiling as special teams standouts.
CORNERBACKS
Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward Sr., Kenny Moore II, Justin Walley, Mekhi Blackmon, Johnathan Edwards, Jaylon Jones, Wyett Ekeler, Rob Carter Jr.
FA: Cameron Mitchell, Chris Lammons
On paper, this is an outstanding group. However, it was decimated by injuries last season. Walley was slated to start but suffered a torn ACL in training camp. Ward missed 10 games, Garder missed about five games, and Moore missed three. If healthy, this is already a pretty good group to go into the season with, but Ward is contemplating retirement, and the injuries make it difficult not to feel like adding another capable player or two for insurance.
SAFETIES
Cam Bynum, Hunter Wohler, Reuben Lowery III, Daniel Scott, Trey Washington, Ben Nikkel
FA: Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas II, George Odum
Like Walley, Wohler's rookie season ended before it officially began after a season-ending injury interrupted a promising summer. At this point, if Cross leaves in free agency, it's difficult to trust Wohler with the starting strong safety spot until it's known that his Lisfranc injury is good to go. Having him play some dime linebacker is a more responsible decision. Ultimately, the amount of attention the team needs to pay to safety depends on whether Cross re-signs. If he does, they really only need a third safety to play deep in the role that Thomas had last year. If Cross leaves, the Colts may need to replace both him and Thomas.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Spencer Shrader
P: Rigoberto Sanchez
LS: Luke Rhodes
FA: K Blake Grupe
Sanchez and Rhodes are solid as it comes, but Shrader is rehabbing a devastating knee injury suffered early last year. He was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month before the injury, so he looked like the team's future kicker. However, kicker is a volatile enough position as is without serious injury. Grupe came in and was an outstanding kicker for the Colts, so it'd be wise to try to keep him around in case Shrader isn't ready for the start of the season.
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.