The Indianapolis Colts showed a ton of promise in 2025, but collapsed in the second half of the season, ultimately finishing the year 8-9 and missing the playoffs. Now the team is focused on attacking the offseason, hoping to build a roster that can avoid a similar collapse in the future. That process of improving the team will start in free agency.
The Colts will have several players that they want to re-sign or sign, but one of the players who should be atop the team’s free agency target list is already clear.
That player is Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, and he was recently ranked by ESPN analyst Matt Bowen as the NFL’s no. 1 free agent of 2026. In the piece, Bowen also named Indianapolis as the best team fit for the star defender.
Indianapolis Colts named as the best team fit for Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson’s fit in Indianapolis is simple: the defense needs pass-rush help, Hendrickson is a great pass rusher, and his former coach, Lou Anarumo, is the current defensive coordinator for the Colts. For those three reasons, Bowen says, “Colts general manager Chris Ballard could make a splash move in landing the top free agent on our board.”
"The Colts finished with 39 sacks last season, tied for 15th in the NFL. Adding to the defensive front should be a priority for win-now Indianapolis."Matt Bowen (ESPN)
The veteran defender, who just finished his ninth year in the league, has played the last five seasons with the Bengals. While last season was a down year, as injuries limited him to just four sacks and 16 tackles in seven games, he made the Pro Bowl in each of the four years prior.
Hendrickson also recorded 17.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons, 2023 and 2024. Only 31 years old, the veteran defender is ready to bring his talents to a new team.
The Colts should absolutely try to be Hendrickson’s next team. As Bowen pointed out, Indianapolis only had 39 sacks this past season, which was 15th in the league. That’s a big reason why Indy allowed 349.8 yards per game (23rd) and 24.2 points per game (21st). The Indianapolis Colts' defense has some promising pieces when healthy, but Hendrickson would be the perfect addition to fix some of the unit’s issues.