The Colts may not be built for a Super Bowl run this season, but that doesn’t mean their defense is doomed to be a weakness. In fact, the clearest path to Indianapolis being respectable on that side of the ball is the thing general manager Chris Ballard spent much of the offseason chasing: balance.
That matters in a season where both Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen are under pressure. If the Colts miss the playoffs for a sixth straight year, both could be out. So Ballard attacked the roster with a clear priority, especially on defense, where most of his free-agent additions were aimed at building reliable depth rather than chasing splashy names.
That approach has given Lou Anarumo a group that looks deeper and more even than Indianapolis has had in years.
The line still starts with DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, two veterans who have been fixtures up front for a combined 16 years. Stewart has spent his entire NFL career in Indianapolis, and both remain central pieces of the defense. Buckner’s workload and effectiveness this season is still something of a question mark, but his presence remains a major part of the front.
Laiatu Latu is the other big name up front, and he’s viewed as the future of the defense with a season that could be a career year. Behind and around those core players, the Colts have built out the kind of rotation that can keep a defense steady.
Adetomiwa Adebawore is part of that mix, along with offseason additions Colby Wooden, Derrick Nnadi, Michael Clemons, and Arden Key. J.T.
Tuimoloau’s development adds another layer.
The draft also brought in George Gumbs Jr. and Caden Curry, both of whom deepen the defensive line even further. Curry, in particular, has reportedly stood out in OTA’s, mini camp, and training camp. For Anarumo, that means plenty of options to evaluate - and in this case, that’s a good problem to have.
The secondary looks just as sturdy. Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward give Indianapolis one of the league’s top cornerback pairings, with Justin Walley also in the mix. Cam Bynum brings the look of a future Pro Bowl-caliber safety, giving the Colts another important piece on the back end.
There’s also reason to like what the Colts have done at linebacker and safety for the future. CJ Allen and A.J.
Haulcey entered the draft and came out as expected starters at their positions. Haulcey has continued to trend that way since the opening days of training camp, while Allen has missed much of camp because of a hamstring injury.
Ballard’s biggest win this offseason may have been simple: he found depth, and plenty of it. Right now, the Colts don’t have many true difference-makers on defense beyond Buckner and Gardner, with Latu moving toward that level. But they do have a lot of good and very good players spread across the unit.
That may be enough to keep Indianapolis competitive, even if the ceiling this season is lower than a playoff chase. For now, “well-balanced” might be the best way to describe the Colts’ defense.
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Former Colts Pick Is Becoming A Frustrating What-If For Indy
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DeForest Buckner Is Giving Colts Fans A Reason To Believe Again
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Shane Steichen said Buckner feels good and is being monitored through camp, which is the kind of update Indianapolis wanted to hear as summer workouts continue. The Colts do not need to rush anything with a player of his importance, but every strong session adds to the sense that Buckner is trending in the right direction. For a fan base looking for reasons to feel better about this group, his progress has been near the top of the list. [Read more 🡒]