The Indianapolis Colts have been as active in free agency this offseason as most other teams and as one of the more active teams in their division. That said, despite their activity, they also seem to have gaping holes that are becoming more concerning each day.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard has addressed the situations at quarterback, wide receiver (although more work is needed), defensive line, and cornerback depth. As for outside free agents, Ballard has signed nine (Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce were brought back).Â
While the majority of Ballard's signings have been given the thumbs up, it's questionable why there has yet to be significant movement in the one position group the Colts have the direst need for, remaining virtually without any depth of its own: linebacker.
Indianapolis Colts are leaving a lot of questions unanswered with unresolved linebacker issues
For a team that has a ton of cap space available to them, the Colts don't appear to be working with any urgency when it comes to their linebacker group. They traded away eight-year veteran Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers, while Segun Olubi left for the Las Vegas Raiders.Â
Still unsigned as a free agent is Germaine Pratt, whom the Colts have been encouraged to re-sign, even though he won't be the full answer to the linebacker questions as a whole. Still, Pratt brings experience, familiarity with Lou Anarumo, and solid depth at a low price, which makes it puzzling why the Colts haven't moved on Pratt yet.Â
In their current state, the Colts are extremely short on experience at linebacker. Akeem Davis-Gaither has so far been the only linebacker free agent to sign with Indianapolis, who also spent much of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals under Anarumo. Cam Taylor-Britt, who also signed with the Colts, carries this in common.Â
Davis-Gaither was a solid depth option, but he's not going to disrupt offenses in the way Franklin did for all the years he was with the Colts. The Colts need a game wrecker at linebacker; otherwise, their entire defense could fall flat due to a lack of game wreckers at any position.Â
Ballard could also be waiting on the draft to see who he can select at linebacker, which may be why he's been this inactive with free agents to fill the holes. That's a risky move, especially given the lack of certainty a draft prospect will work out, not to mention the Colts don't have a first-round pick this year either.Â
What's certain is that the Colts have an unresolved problem that needs a solution. What and who they have at linebacker today won't cut it once the 2026-27 season begins, but that's obvious. Ballard's job is likely on the line next season, so what he does in this offseason is all the more important. He's done a fair job with the Colts other position groups; now he needs to fix the linebacker corps.