Colts’ Pass Rush Needs a Jolt - Could R Mason Thomas Be the Answer?
The Indianapolis Colts wrapped up the 2025 season with more questions than answers, and one of the biggest revolved around the quarterback carousel. But while the QB situation grabbed headlines, another issue quietly loomed large all year: the pass rush - or lack thereof.
Even when things were clicking elsewhere, the Colts' edge rush remained inconsistent at best. It wasn’t just about sack totals or pressure rates - this was something fans could feel in the biggest moments.
When Indy needed a stop, when they needed someone to make a quarterback uncomfortable, too often no one showed up. The exception?
Second-year edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who flashed the kind of disruptive ability that makes you believe a true cornerstone might be in place.
But one man can’t do it alone. And as the Colts head into a pivotal 2026 offseason, GM Chris Ballard has a clear task ahead: rebuild the edge group from the ground up.
Aging, Ineffective, and Out the Door?
The current state of the Colts’ edge room is, frankly, uninspiring. Samson Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis - both 30, both pending free agents - failed to make a consistent impact in 2025.
Neither looks like a long-term piece worth reinvesting in. Kwity Paye, once a first-round pick with promise, hasn’t taken the leap the team hoped for.
His future in Indy is murky at best.
That leaves Ballard with a glaring hole on the outside. And with no first-round pick in the 2026 draft - thanks to the bold trade for cornerback Sauce Gardner, a move that hasn’t yet paid off - the Colts will need to find value in the second round.
Enter R Mason Thomas
One name to watch? Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas.
At 6'2", 250 pounds, Thomas doesn’t fit the prototypical mold of a long, towering edge rusher. But what he lacks in length, he makes up for with twitch, burst, and relentless effort.
In 23 games over the past two seasons, Thomas racked up 15.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss - nearly one disruptive play per game. That’s not just production; that’s consistency.
And it speaks to one of Thomas’s most valuable traits: an elite motor. He plays like every snap is personal, and that kind of fire is exactly what Indy’s defense has been missing.
A Culture Shift on Defense?
Outside of DeForest Buckner and Zaire Franklin, the Colts haven’t had many defenders who play with that extra edge - the emotional investment that separates good from great. It’s not about caring when things go wrong; it’s about pushing for greatness snap after snap, even when no one’s watching.
That’s what Buckner brings. He’s not just one of the most technically sound interior linemen in the league - he plays like he wants to be the best. That mindset is contagious, but only if the right pieces are around him.
Buckner, who missed time in 2025 with a neck injury, plans to return for 2026. He’ll be 33 before the 2027 season and is set to hit free agency next year.
This could be his final run in Indy. If it is, what better way to maximize it than by pairing him with a young, hungry edge rusher like Thomas - someone who can learn from Buckner, feed off his intensity, and maybe even carry that torch into the next era?
The Bottom Line
The Colts have work to do this offseason, and the edge rush is near the top of the list. With no first-round pick, Ballard will need to get creative - and get it right. R Mason Thomas might not be the flashiest name in the draft, but his production, motor, and upside make him a strong candidate to step in and contribute right away.
If Indy wants to get back to the playoffs and build a defense that can close out games, it starts with finding players who can get after the quarterback - and won’t stop until they do. Thomas fits that mold. Now it’s up to the Colts to decide if he’s their guy.