The Indianapolis Colts had an underwhelming 8-9 season in 2024, and one of the biggest reasons why the team struggled was the defense. Despite having some talented players at all three levels, Indy’s defense was one of the worst units in the league. The Colts allowed 361.2 yards a game (29th in the NFL), and 25.1 points per game (24th). That resulted in the team moving on from Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator and hiring Lou Anarumo.
Now, with Anarumo in charge, everyone is hoping he can get the best out of the defensive talent on the roster, especially the young guys. Fortunately, the veteran defensive coordinator has some really good young guys to work with— guys that are expected to have breakout seasons in 2025. Bradley Locker highlighted those guys in a recent PFF piece, predicting a 2025 All-Breakout Team.
The two Colts defenders who made the team were edge defender Laiatu Latu and linebacker Jaylon Carlies.
Laiatu Latu and Jaylon Carlies named to PFF’s All-Breakout Team
Just about everyone is predicting a big year two from Laiatu Latu, the 15th-overall pick in the 2024 Draft. As a rookie, he played in all 17 games, starting just one, recording four sacks, 32 tackles, with five for a loss, and three forced fumbles. The flashes were there, but it’s time for the edge defender to take things to another level, and Locker thinks he can.
"Even if he didn’t play entirely as well as expected right away, Latu still performed like the team’s best edge rusher in his first year.Bradley Locker (PFF)
The former UCLA star ended his rookie campaign with a 72.1 PFF pass-rushing grade, 38 pressures and a 14% pass-rush win rate — the best mark on the Colts and third among qualified rookie edge rushers, trailing Jared Verse and Chop Robinson."
Jaylon Carlies, on the other hand, was drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 Draft, but found his way onto the field, starting six of the 10 games he played in. The linebacker recorded 36 tackles, two for a loss, and one sack. Now, with E.J. Speed moving on to the Houston Texans, Carlies will enter the year with a bigger role, and he must be prepared to deliver.
If both Latu and Carlies can take their came to another level like they are expected to, the Colts defense should be a much better unit in 2025. Indianapolis already signed a bunch of talented defensive backs, and have a new coordinator, so the defense should be set up for succes.