The Indianapolis Colts have already spent plenty of energy trying to clean up their off-ball linebacker room this offseason. They traded Zaire Franklin, let Germaine Pratt walk, signed Akeem Davis-Gaither and then used two draft picks in the first four rounds on the position. Even after all that, the job still might not be finished.
If the Colts want one more move that could steady the middle of their defense, Bobby Wagner is the name to watch.
Wagner is headed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday, and while he is not the same player he was five years ago, he is still one of the best linebackers at his spot. Before last season, during the second of his two years with the Washington Commanders, he had earned First- or Second-Team All-Pro honors in 11 straight seasons. And even then, he still piled up 162 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
He also looks like a clean fit for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s system. Wagner does not have to be sent on blitzes to create pressure.
He gets to the quarterback through instinct and intelligence, reading the play, knowing when to attack the line and when to stay put. That kind of football IQ is hard to replace.
For Indianapolis, the appeal is that Wagner might not need to be a long-term answer to matter. A one-year solution could be enough.
Second-round pick CJ Allen is almost locked into one starting job, but the other spot is still unsettled. Fourth-rounder Bryce Boettcher could eventually claim it, though he may need a year or so to adjust to the NFL.
Akeem Davis-Gaither is also in the mix, but he has a weakness that Wagner simply does not share: tackling. Davis-Gaither has missed 12.7 percent of his tackle attempts in his career, while Wagner’s mark is 5.5 percent.
Run defense is where Wagner still stands out most. Few linebackers in league history have been better against the run, and he has had only one season with fewer than 51 run stuffs.
That came in 2018, when he still finished with 41. He has also been remarkably durable.
Since the start of 2015, he has missed only two games, even now at age 36.
There is another layer here for the Colts, too. If they brought Wagner in, CJ Allen would be getting one of the best veteran voices he could possibly have рядом him. That kind of guidance would matter for a rookie stepping into the league.
Spotrac projects Wagner’s market value at $7.7 million in 2026, and that number could already be inflated a bit because of his age and the fact that it is July and he still has not signed anywhere. Even if the price tag is close to $8 million, Chris Ballard should at least make the call.
In Other News...
Colts Linked To Troubling Terrion Arnold Interest During Legal Drama
Terrion Arnolds legal situation took another turn this week when he appeared in court for a hearing tied to whether he would have to wear a GPS monitor while on house arrest as he awaits trial on felony charges. His agent told the court that interest in Arnold has not gone away, with multiple NFL teams still checking in even as he remains confined to his home except for work and legal meetings.
For the Colts, the intrigue is less about the courtroom mechanics and more about what happens next with a player whose football future is still drawing attention despite the off-field uncertainty. Indianapolis is among the teams that have inquired, and the broader picture now centers on how much appetite there is around the league to keep pursuing him while his legal case continues to play out. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Ballard Linked To A Colts Move Fans Will Absolutely Question
A surprising Colts rumor surfaced this week when reporting from Dave Birkett linked Indianapolis to cornerback Terrion Arnold, one of several teams said to be interested in a player whose off-field situation has already made any football discussion complicated. Arnolds agent said in a court hearing that he has had one visit with a team and is expected to have another, which only adds to the sense that clubs are at least kicking the tires even as the legal cloud hangs over everything.
For Indianapolis, the fit is what makes the idea hard to square. The Colts already have depth at cornerback, so a move like this would have to clear a lot of football and non-football hurdles before it made much sense on the roster. And with the risk tied to Arnolds case and the possibility of an NFL suspension looming, it is the kind of link that will naturally leave fans wondering why the team would even be in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]