The Indianapolis Colts haven't made any splash signings from other teams in free agency, and aren't likely to, though the team did bring back quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce. The biggest question fans are asking is simple: Is the team better in 2026?
For the security of the jobs of both general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen, the team needs to be. That might be especially true of Ballard, who has spent nine years in his position, but his team has only made the postseason twice. Indy hasn't won the AFC South in Ballard's tenure.
Steichen has no roster control, but he is only 7-22 against teams with winning records. For Indianapolis to show improvement next season, that statistic has to change. If it doesn't, and even if Ballard somehow stays into 2027, Steichen needs to be let go.
Whether the Indianapolis Colts will be more successful in 2026 gets complicated
But is the team better than it was this past season? The answer is complicated because of what happened in the middle of the 2025 season. Indy started 7-1 and appeared set to at least make the postseason until injuries took a toll and competition began to tick up.
Jones broke his fibula, which might have been one reason for his numerous turnovers in Weeks 9 and 10, and then he tore his Achilles tendon in Week 14 and missed the rest of the season. It is important to note that by Week 14, the Colts were on the outside looking in.
Jones wasn't the only injured player, of course. Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner hurt his neck in Week 9 and only played one more game the rest of the way. Cornerback Charvarius Ward suffered three concussions during the season and missed the majority of it.
With a healthy Jones, the team started 7-1. After so many injuries occurred, Indianapolis finished 8-9.
This offseason, though, the roster hasn't improved. While Jones and Pierce return, they were already on the team last season. Defensively, Indy lost linebacker Zaire Franklin, edge rusher Kwity Paye, and safety Nick Cross. Ballard has yet to replace Franklin or Cross, and the players already on the team who could take their place are iffy.
In 2025, the Indianapolis Colts finished third in the division behind the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans. The Texans have made a large number of moves this offseason, including signing former Colts right tackle Braden Smith, and they have seemingly gotten better. The Jags haven't done much.
The last-place team was the Tennessee Titans, and they will look extremely different defensively. They hired Robert Saleh as their new head coach, and since then, Tennessee has acquired many players who were on the very good New York Jets defense when Saleh coached there a couple of seasons ago.
Ultimately, though, Indianapolis's roster might not be any better this offseason than it was last year, and that might not matter. If Ward, Buckner, Jones, and Sauce Gardner can all stay healthier next season than last, the Colts could make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.