The Colts defensive line really should be a team strength given the key resources they’ve committed to it through the years.
According to PFF’s Zolton Buday, the Indianapolis Colts have around a league average defensive line ahead of the 2025 campaign—coming in at just 17th overall:
17. Indianapolis Colts
There is a case to be made that the Colts have the best interior defender duo in the league. Although both are over 31 years old, Grover Stewart (76.0 PFF overall grade) and DeForest Buckner (81.9 PFF overall grade) were among the 15 highest-graded interior defenders last season.
Former first-round edge defenders Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu will need to step up in 2025 to vault this unit up the rankings.
While PFF’s opinion certainly isn’t football doctrine, it is a bit disheartening that a franchise who’s proclaimed “building the trenches” for closer to a decade now is still a middle of the pack defensive line—especially when looking at the capital significantly invested along it.
The Colts have used three first round picks, either through trade or drafting, to add Pro Bowler DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye, and Laiatu Latu along their defensive line. They also added second round picks through the years to their d-line including to Tyquan Lewis, Kemoko Turay, and Dayo Odeyingbo—two of whom are no longer with the franchise just a handful of years later.
Buckner signed a 2-year, $46 million contract extension last year, while the team recently rewarded nose tackle Grover Stewart with a 3-year, $39 million deal that same offseason.
They also signed veteran Samson Ebukam to a 3-year, $24 million contract two years ago.
Given the key resources committed to the defensive trenches through the years under Ballard, it really should be a clear strength of their defense, let alone the team.
Even though Buckner and Stewart may be the AFC South’s best defensive tackle duo since Big John Henderson and Marcus Stroud infamously manned the middle for the Jacksonville Jaguars once vaunted defense, the Colts haven’t generated enough consistent outside pass pressure to help their defense take the next step.
Perhaps 2024 first round pick Laiatu Latu, who was the first defensive player chosen in his draft class and showed some promise as a rookie last year, can break out in Year 2 to provide it.
The Colts also selected defensive lineman JT Tuimoloau out of Ohio State in the 2nd round to help replace some of Odeyingbo’s lost pass rushing ability and versatility—who signed with the Chicago Bears earlier in free agency. They also added veteran Neville Gallimore as a rotational defensive tackle to bolster their interior depth.