Opposing quarterbacks often had a field day against the Indianapolis Colts in 2025, but they were elite at stopping the run. Now, in the second year of the Lou Anarumo regime, the defensive coordinator will strive for a more balanced unit.
The Colts spent most of their offseason resources on their defense. From drafting CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher to signing Arden Key, plus the Sauce Gardner trade from last season, this team should look quite different in 2026.
However, this regime can't leave anything to chance after a major late-season collapse, and they should keep an eye out in the market for diamonds in the rough. If that's the case, they should bring Kenneth Murray to training camp and see whether he can finally live up to the expectations.
Kenneth Murray can be an intriguing pickup for the Indianapolis Colts
Murray entered the league as a first-round pick in 2020. The Los Angeles Chargers moved on from him after four disappointing seasons, and he's since had one-year tenures with the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys.
He's started 30 games in the past two seasons and is coming off registering 81 tackles, four tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and one sack in Arlington. Those numbers don't necessarily stand out, but he's just 27 years old and might be worth the gamble as a low-risk/high-reward pickup.
Granted, Murray's struggles in coverage might limit him to an early-down role, but the Colts already have solid pieces in that department. They reunited Akeem Davis-Gaither with Anarumo, and Allen is expected to be their green-dot guy right out of the gate.
That said, expecting two rookies to do all of the heavy lifting might be putting way too much on their shoulders. Boettcher is a former baseball player who's still learning the ropes at the position and might need more time to get a handle on the NFL game, so Murray could be a valuable piece at a reasonable price while they work on his development.
The Colts only carried four linebackers into their 53-man roster last season, so they might not be looking to add more bodies to the mix. Jaylon Carlies will most likely make the roster as their best option in coverage, so that Murray would face an uphill battle.
Still, with a projected market value of just $4.9 million, no margin for error, and a young linebacker corps, this is a move worth considering. We've seen late bloomers like Devin Bush find their best version after years of struggles, and they can just cut him after training camp if they don't like what they see.
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