The Indianapolis Colts have made some huge decisions this offseason, but what is the biggest question remaining as they near the NFL Draft?
This has been an offseason of extreme importance for the Indianapolis Colts.
On paper, you could say every team should have that mentality, but jobs are likely on the line for the Colts after owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon declared that the urgency to win in 2026 "has never been higher."
The Colts signed quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce to multi-year deals, including a combined $144 million in guaranteed money. They traded longtime veterans Michael Pittman Jr. and Zaire Franklin as part of cost-cutting measures and allowed other vets, such as Kwity Paye, Braden Smith, Nick Cross, and Samson Ebukam, to leave in free agency.
They've made numerous moves on the defensive side of the ball, but Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report asks, "Is the defense good enough?"
"The Colts reportedly swung at Trey Hendrickson and missed," Gagnon wrote. "They've instead added Arden Key and Michael Clemons, which might not make up for the fact that the linebacker corps and safety group are lacking in a major way. This D was a disaster down the stretch in 2025 and will need to be tuned up despite a lack of first-round pick."
Asking whether the Colts' defense is good enough to enter the 2026 season is a fair question.
At defensive end, the Colts no longer have Paye, Ebukam, and Tyquan Lewis from a group that already underwhelmed as pass rushers. While that could be a good thing, the Colts haven't fully replaced what they lost.
Dec 1, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is sacked by Tennessee Titans linebacker Arden Key (49) during the first half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn ImagesYou could look at the additions of Arden Key and Micheal Clemons as upgrades from Ebukam and Lewis, but there's been no replacement yet for Paye, who's been a starter for five years. The Colts drafted Jaylahn Tuimoloau in the second round last year, but he did not show enough as a rookie to be considered a starter in 2026.
Defensive tackle has a deep group. Behind starters DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart are Colby Wooden, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Jerry Tillery, Derrick Nnadi, and Tim Smith. However, it seems the Colts are missing a young impact player behind Stewart at the one-tech.
The Colts drafted Smith last year, but he was a practice squad fixture. Nnadi is very limited in what he can produce at this point in his career. This is a spot with an opportunity to get younger and better.
For the second consecutive season, the Colts enter the draft with a big question at linebacker, but it's even more dire this offseason. Last year, the Colts thought Franklin and Jaylon Carlies would carry them through the season, but Franklin is no longer on the team, and Carlies just went through a second consecutive injury-plagued season.
The team signed presumed starter Akeem Davis-Gaither in free agency, so the other holes may be filled with a deep draft class of linebackers. If the Colts strike out there, there are some free agents remaining who make sense.
The cornerback group is very deep, but that's also what we thought last year before they were decimated by injuries. The team is genuinely nine-strong at corner before you get to anyone considered a "camp body." While this should breed strong competition in training camp, it also provides the team with insurance should they begin experiencing health issues again.
There is a decent possibility the Colts use a draft pick on a safety this spring, but if they don't, they could probably survive the season just fine. Cross, their starting box safety for the last two years, left in free agency, but a competition between Hunter Wohler and Juanyeh Thomas is expected to ensue. The team also added Jonathan Owens this offseason behind Cam Bynum.