The Indianapolis Colts met their priorities this offseason by re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce, but the defense is becoming a concern. The issue isn't that Indy is losing so many players, but they aren't replacing them with quality.
Two more left in free agency on Thursday, edge rusher Samson Ebukam and backup safety Rodney Thomas. Ebukam is signing with the Atlanta Falcons, and Thomas is heading to the Seattle Seahawks. Ebukam is potentially the bigger loss.
To be certain, general manager Chris Ballard was right when he said a couple of times this offseason that the team needed to revamp its defensive front seven and get more athletic. Indy has let Ebukam, Thomas, safety Nick Cross, edge rusher Kwity Paye, and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore go, and rightfully so, but their replacements are, so far, none better.
Indianapolis Colts lose two more defenders in free agency
In fact, the additions are likely worse. Ballard hasn't yet addressed the inside linebacker position, and shouldn't rely on returning players to fill the two roles. Safety hasn't been addressed either. Plenty of time exists for the Colts to sign players at those positions (or draft them), but the pickings might be thin.
Ballard has signed three defensive players as of Friday afternoon: Edge rushers Arden Key and Michael Clemons, and defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi. Nnadi and Clemons were graded exceedingly poorly by Pro Football Focus (subscription required) in recent seasons, and Key hasn't produced anywhere near an elite level.
Getting Jones and Pierce back is great, and the offense should keep humming as long as players stay healthy. That is the case even with Michael Pittman Jr. being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But Indianapolis isn't going to make the playoffs next season based on good offensive play alone. The AFC South is too difficult.
Making the postseason is a must for Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen to keep their jobs. The general manager has made the playoffs just twice in nine years. Steichen hasn't won in three, and he is 7-22 against teams with winning records. That has to change moving forward.
The problem is that Ballard might not be giving Steichen the overall roster that the head coach needs to succeed. If Ballard goes, so does Steichen, most likely, though the coach has no control over the roster. He will simply need to hope that defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is able to work some kind of magic and mold the defense into a good unit with potentially less talent than last year.