Offseason Needs: Indianapolis Colts Must Add Talent to Keep Pace In AFC

Defense

I’ll start with a position group that is stable and will not need much activity: interior defensive line.

-Interior Defensive Line: The interior defensive line group is led by All-Pro DeForest Buckner. Since arriving in Indianapolis, Buckner has been the focal point of the defense. He is one of the best in the league at creating pressure from the inside and is a locker room leader. Another leader on the squad is fellow defensive tackle, Grover Stewart. Both are signed to lucrative deals and they set the tone for the entire unit. This position group often has waves of quality depth. Even with Stallworth hitting free agency, the Indianapolis Colts have a track record of developing talent at the position if they are unable to bring him back.

Next up is a position that could go either way: linebacker.

-Linebacker: Considering how frequently the Colts utilize five defensive backs, Darius Leonard and Bobby Okereke do most of the heavy lifting by playing a majority of the snaps at the linebacker position. When both are healthy, they are arguably the best duo at the position in the NFL. The problem is that Darius has never played a full season without missing a game.

This leaves the team vulnerable if there isn’t adequate depth behind the two atop the depth chart. Guys like Zaire Franklin and Mathew Adams are free agents. Bringing them back would help tremendously. I would also look for them to be active on day three of the draft as they look for depth pieces.

Finally we arrive at the positions that MUST be addressed in order for the Indianapolis Colts to compete at a high level, those include: safety, defensive end, and cornerback.

-Safety: A lot of things from the linebacker section are true about the safety position, also. Julian Blackmon and Khari Willis have both flashed elite potential but never to the degree that Darius Leonard has consistently displayed. There are even bigger injury concerns here, too. Blackmon dropped in the draft due to significant injuries as an amateur and it looks as though it is following him to the pros.

After a spectacular rookie campaign, Blackmon tore his Achilles midway through the 2021 season. It happened during a practice, making it all the more painful to swallow. Willis hasn’t played more than 14 games in any of his three professional seasons, either. When healthy, they are an exciting duo, but the Colts cannot rely on their health at this point so it is necessary to add players that not only can serve as depth, but can fill in as starters in the event of a major injury.

-Defensive End: On paper, this is the group with the most potential on the roster. Kwity Paye looks like a superstar in the making and second-round pick Dayo Odeyingbo has improved mightily already. Ideally, the Colts will have Paye and Odeyingbo bookending the edge for the next decade. Why is this in the must address section then?

Well, Odeyingbo was not used in a full-time role last season. As he worked his way back from an Achilles injury, the coaching staff wisely used caution as the season progressed. And while Paye came on strong at the end of the season, it was blatantly obvious how much the Colts were lacking in the pass rush department.

Ben Banogu has done nothing to show that he can be a threat, and Kemoko Turay cannot stay on the field long enough to reach his otherworldly ceiling. Simply put, getting to the quarterback is an essential part to having an effective defense.

The Colts cannot rely on injury prone and unproven players at such a premier position. Even something as simple as bringing in a cheap, veteran option could go a long way to providing depth and increased production at the same time. Regardless of how they address it, the Colts MUST add a pass rusher if they want to compete for a divisional title in 2022.

-Cornerbacks: Rock Ya-Sin and Isaiah Rodgers improved by leaps and bounds over the course of the season. Both cementing themselves as number two cornerbacks. The fact that the Indianapolis Colts have the best slot corner in the NFL, Kenny Moore ll, helps a great deal. This is strictly about the boundary cornerbacks, though.

As much as I personally like Ya-Sin and Rodgers, the Indianapolis Colts defense is merely one true shutdown cornerback away from entering the “best defense in the NFL” discussion. As stated before, the team struggled to get to the quarterback in 2021. One of the best ways to improve the pass rush, is to take away open passing lanes.

Allowing Ya-Sin to settle into a sidekick role, and Rodgers to be more of a depth piece, while bringing in a guy that is capable of covering the opponents best receiver would unlock another level to this defense. New defensive coordinator Gus Bradley prides himself on the secondary, and adding an elite talent would make life a lot easier for everyone. Bringing back Xavier Rhodes is not acceptable when there are better options available via trade, free agency, or draft.

With all these uber-talented wide receivers in the league, you must have a guy that can go toe-to-toe with the best in the game. Aside from Vontae Davis, one could argue that the Colts have not had a legitimate number one cornerback in recent memory. That should change this offseason.