The Indianapolis Colts were trending toward being a playoff team in the 2025 season until two things happened. The competition ticked up quite a bit in the second half of the season, and injuries took a brutal toll. Other teams suffered the same fate, like the San Francisco 49ers. The difference? Indy didn't have the same quality of depth.
After defensive lineman DeForest Buckner was injured, for instance, no player who come close to replacing him during the second half of the season. Should Buckner hurt his neck again or have any other ailment, the same situation might present itself for the Colts this coming season.
Forget edge rusher for a second. The biggest worry Indianapolis might have is what happens if Buckner and fellow defensive lineman Grover Stewart get hurt?
Indianapolis Colts have a real concern with depth along the defensive line
General manager Chris Ballard believes that the D-line depth is better after the team signed free agents Colby Wooden, Jerry Tillery, and Derrick Nnadi this offseason, but no one else might think that. Ballard's hope is that Wooden will be better in Indy after being a nose guard in 2025 for the Green Bay Packers.
That's what the GM is telling fans, at least, though his belief in that theory has no basis in fact. Wooden has spent three seasons with the Packers after being chosen in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and has produced just half-a-sack, no more than 14 total quarterback pressures, and only one season with more than nine run stuffs.
Last year, he did have 28 run-stuffs, but he also played a lot more snaps for the Packers. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Wooden's 46.4 run defense grade was the worst of his career, and all the grades were poor. This implies that no guarantee exists that Wooden will help the Indianapolis Colts against the run or in quarterback pressures.
Even worse, Wooden might have the most potential of the trio of defensive linemen that were signed by Ballard this offseason. Tillery is almost 30 years old and has bounced around the league quite a bit since 2022. He hasn't had sustained success anywhere.
Derrick Nnadi is already 30, has spent his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs, but doesn't have an overall grade by PFF higher than 43.6, which is awful, since 2021.
Chris Ballard appears to have taken the cheap way out once again this offseason after re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce. Those guys were already on the 8-9 team last season, so they can't be an upgrade. As for the Indianapolis Colts defensive line, it's worse than last season. If it struggles, blame the general manager.
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