The Indianapolis Colts did hit one of Chris Ballard’s offseason targets: the defensive front seven got younger and, in theory, more athletic. But younger doesn’t automatically mean better, and that’s especially true off the edge.
Indianapolis let Kwity Paye walk in free agency and replaced him with Arden Key, which feels like a wash. The Colts also added the underwhelming Micheal Clemons and used late draft picks on two edge players. With how shaky the group looked in 2025, it’s hard to make a convincing case that the position is in better shape heading into 2026.
That’s why Tyquan Lewis keeps coming back into the conversation.
Lewis is still sitting in free agency, and at 31, he may not have a strong market. He wasn’t overly productive last season, but the Colts know exactly what he can be. And in a room that needs dependable bodies as much as upside swings, that matters.
There’s a case to be made that Lewis simply didn’t fit defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s system. Then again, outside of Laiatu Latu, almost nobody did.
It’s also fair to wonder whether Anarumo’s setup is one where multiple edge rushers can thrive at once. Trey Hendrickson excelled under him with the Cincinnati Bengals, but Cincinnati never exactly had a deep bench of difference-makers at the spot.
That opens the door for a bounce-back possibility. Lewis could be more effective in his second year under Anarumo than he was in 2025, when he posted just three sacks and played only 36 percent of the snaps.
What makes the situation more glaring is that the rest of the pass rush never really picked up the slack. The Colts spent the season chasing answers while the pressure never became a consistent problem-solver, and DeForest Buckner missing most of the year after Week 9 only made the situation worse.
Depth is the issue here. Banking on Latu and Key to be substantially better than Paye and Latu is a risky bet. Clemons has done little in his career, and the late-round rookies aren’t likely to be immediate impact players.
Lewis may not be a game-changer, but he doesn’t need to be. He was only two seasons removed from producing 44 total quarterback pressures and nine tackles for loss. For a defense that needs functional depth to get where it wants to go, that kind of presence has real value.
The Colts still have plenty of money available, and bringing Lewis back would probably cost $2 million or less. At that price, it makes sense. Indy could use the help.
In Other News...
PFF Just Delivered A Telling Verdict On The Colts Defense
PFFs latest look at the Colts defense offers a useful snapshot of where the unit stands heading into 2025, and it lines up with the bigger question hanging over the roster all offseason: can a group that allowed 24.2 points per game and finished 21st in the league take a meaningful step forward? The front office has tried to answer that by getting younger and faster, and the projected starting lineup now has a mix of proven veterans and players still trying to establish themselves in bigger roles.
The grades suggest the Colts have a few clear building blocks, with some starters standing out as quality pieces and others still searching for steadier production. There is also an injury wrinkle in the mix, which only adds to the uncertainty around how this defense will actually look once the season gets going, and whether the roster changes were enough to push the unit closer to the level Indianapolis needs. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Were Handed A Dream Win-Now Draft Colts Fans Will Debate
NFL.coms hypothetical seven-round redraft handed Indianapolis a kind of wish-list scenario, one that invites Colts fans to argue over both the ceiling and the realism of the haul. In the exercise, the Colts came away with a stacked mix of talent across the board, highlighted by an edge rusher in Will Anderson Jr. and a few other names that would instantly change the tone of the roster.
The fun for Colts followers is in the fit as much as the star power, because the mock puts real help around the lineup in places that have been easy to talk about for a while. Drake London would give Indianapolis a legitimate top target, Sauce Gardner would be back in the fold in a way that makes the secondary look far different, and even the later-round choices point to a team that would be trying to win now rather than think several seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Why This Colts Rookie Keeps Coming Up In Anarumo's Defense
Bryce Boettchers path to the Colts has been anything but ordinary. Drafted with the 135th pick, the rookie linebacker arrives with the kind of toughness and competitive streak Indianapolis likes to tout, plus a rare versatility that could let him handle either MIKE or WILL in Lou Anarumos defense. It is the sort of profile that stands out even before a player takes a meaningful NFL snap, especially for a team still sorting out how its young linebackers fit together.
Boettcher also brings a background that makes him easy to notice in a room full of rookies. Before football became the clearer lane, he was drafted by the Astros and walked on at Oregon in both baseball and football, a route that helped shape the passion for the game Colts scout Kasia Omilan pointed to when discussing his fit. Even in the spring, when he spent most of his time with the second unit and only briefly mixed in with the starters, Boettcher kept showing up for the same reasons that got him here in the first place. [Read more 🡒]