The Indianapolis Colts find themselves in a familiar, frustrating position: on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2020, and while injuries certainly played a role in 2025, the reality is simple-every team deals with adversity.
Just ask the 49ers, who were riddled with injuries and still found a way in. In the NFL, there are no asterisks.
You either get it done or you don’t.
For the Colts, getting it done in 2026 means one thing: adding more talent. That’s the simplest way to flip the narrative.
Of course, saying it is easy-doing it is another matter entirely. This league doesn’t hand out elite players.
You’ve got to outbid, out-draft, and out-develop your competition. And when it comes to free agency, that means being smart with your money and strategic with your targets.
The good news? Indianapolis has some cap space to work with this offseason.
The not-so-good news? A chunk of that will likely go toward trying to retain quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce.
But if the Colts are serious about making a leap, they’ll need to look beyond just keeping their own. They’ve got to address the defense-specifically, the pass rush.
Enter Trey Hendrickson.
The four-time Pro Bowler and 2024 First-Team All-Pro is hitting the market. Yes, he’s 31 and coming off a season where he missed 10 games, but that also means his price tag could be a little more manageable.
And when healthy, Hendrickson is a game-wrecker-plain and simple. From 2023 to 2024, he posted back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks.
That kind of production doesn’t just grow on trees.
Here’s where things get interesting for the Colts: they just hired Marion Hobbs, the former Cincinnati Bengals defensive line coach. Hobbs worked directly with Hendrickson during those dominant seasons in Cincy and was part of a defensive staff led by Lou Anarumo that consistently got the most out of its front seven.
So now you’ve got familiarity, trust, and a proven track record-all things that could make Indy a very appealing destination for Hendrickson. Reuniting with Hobbs could be a key selling point, and if Hendrickson is looking for a fresh start that still feels like home, this could be the perfect fit.
It’s not just about relationships, though. It’s about fit-and the Colts have the pieces to make Hendrickson’s life easier.
With DeForest Buckner anchoring the interior, Sauce Gardner locking down one side of the field, promising rookie Laiatu Latu coming off the edge, and Charvarius Ward providing veteran presence in the secondary, this defense has the foundation. What it lacks is that extra gear off the edge-someone who can consistently collapse the pocket and change the math for opposing quarterbacks.
That’s where Hendrickson comes in. His addition could elevate this defense from middle-of-the-pack to top-10 territory.
Last season, the Colts ranked 20th in points allowed (24.2 per game), 16th in pass pressure rate (23.3%), and fourth in missed tackles (125). That’s not a recipe for playoff football.
But plug in a proven pass rusher like Hendrickson, and suddenly those pressure numbers start looking a lot more dangerous.
And when you’ve got a defense that can get after the quarterback, everything else starts to click. The secondary has more time to make plays.
The offense gets more possessions. The game slows down in your favor.
So yes, the Colts have work to do. But they’ve also got a real opportunity here.
Bringing in Trey Hendrickson wouldn’t just be a splash-it could be the move that finally gets them over the hump. And with Marion Hobbs now in the building, Indy might just have the inside track to make it happen.