The Colts have a clear problem up front, and the solution may already be sitting on another roster.
Indianapolis has real talent on its defensive line, but the drop-off behind DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart is a concern. The offseason additions from general manager Chris Ballard don’t exactly scream impact help, either.
Buckner is coming off neck surgery on New Year’s Eve after the injury he suffered in Week 9 last year, and the encouraging part is that he won’t begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Even so, he’s 32.
Stewart is over 30 as well.
That’s why Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea makes so much sense. Vea has requested a trade, and the Colts should absolutely at least find out what it would take to get him.
Vea isn’t a cheap or simple fix. He’s 31, his cap hit is hefty, and the Buccaneers would still be carrying some dead money.
But he brings something Indianapolis badly needs: a massive interior force who can stuff the run and still collapse the pocket. At 6'4" and 350 pounds, he’s a rare kind of problem for an offense to solve.
That matters especially because the Colts’ edge rush situation is shaky beyond Laiatu Latu, who should be good. The rest of that group is, at best, uncertain. Vea would change the math for the whole defense, and particularly for the pass rush.
His production backs that up. Since 2021, Vea has had at least four sacks every season, with seven two years ago and 4.5 in 2025.
If offenses have to devote attention to him, that opens things up for Latu and Buckner. It also gives defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo more flexibility with alignments and play-calling.
The price tag is the real question. Tampa Bay is going to want meaningful draft value, but Vea’s age and position make a first-round pick unrealistic.
A second-rounder seems unlikely, too. A third-round pick from Indianapolis might be the best offer on the table.
There’s another layer to the idea as well. Tampa Bay’s quarterback depth is thin, with Baker Mayfield starting and Jake Browning behind him.
Trading for Anthony Richardson would give the Buccaneers a full season to evaluate him. Mayfield is a free agent next offseason, and while he’s likely to re-sign, Richardson could become a fallback option if he doesn’t.
The move would also send Richardson back to Florida, his home state, where he might be more comfortable and, in turn, more productive.
For Indianapolis, the appeal is simple. Vea would improve the rotation behind the starters, and the current backups - Colby Wooden, Jerry Tillery, and Derrick Nnadi - haven’t done much in their careers with other teams. Adetomiwa Adebawore can rush the passer, and adding Vea to that mix could give the Colts a defense with top-10 potential, provided health cooperates.
All it would take is a phone call.
In Other News...
Ballard Just Sent Colts Fans A Message About One Rookie Edge Rusher
Chris Ballard left training camp with a little extra confidence in one of the Colts young pass rushers, and it came through in the way he talked about Caden Curry. The rookie edge rusher has already made a favorable impression in organized team activities and minicamp, giving Indianapolis a reason to think there may be more here than just a late-round flier from Ohio State.
For a Colts defense that still needs more help off the edge, any encouraging sign matters. Laiatu Latu and Arden Key give Indianapolis a starting point, but the depth behind them remains a real question, which is why Ballards optimism about Curry stands out. The Colts are hoping the rookie can keep building on that early momentum and turn a promising summer into something more meaningful once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Richardson Situation Just Put Colts Future In An Awkward Spot
Anthony Richardsons place in Indianapolis has become one of the most delicate storylines of camp, with the Colts trying to sort out a quarterback room that no longer looks straightforward. Daniel Jones is lined up to take the first-team snaps and should be a full participant when training camp opens, while Richardson and rookie Riley Leonard are left to compete for the backup role behind him.
The complication is obvious: Richardson is still unhappy with where things stand, and the Colts are weighing whether it makes sense to carry all three quarterbacks on the roster. For a team that invested heavily in Richardson and then watched him miss much of last season after the orbital bone injury in Week 6 warm-ups, the situation has turned into a real test of patience, roster management and long-term planning. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Kicker Battle May Already Be Tilting One Way
The Colts training camp kicking competition has quietly become one of the more interesting roster battles in Westfield, with Spencer Shrader and Blake Grupe both trying to prove they can handle the job when the pressure is real. Shraders case starts with familiarity, but his 2024 season ended early because of a knee injury, leaving him to reestablish himself after missing the rest of the year.
Grupe, meanwhile, arrives with a different kind of momentum after stepping in late last season and doing everything asked of him. For a team trying to stay in the playoff conversation, the appeal is obvious: a steadier leg and more confidence from distance can matter in close games, and the Colts may not want to leave those long field goals to chance. [Read more 🡒]