The Indianapolis Colts will depend on their defense more than ever this year to make it back to the postseason. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has a lot of last year's mainstays back, but one undrafted rookie promises to be a key piece of a playoff-bound defense.
The Colts' defense has been in freefall since 2020, when they fielded a top-10 unit. Last year, they ranked 24th in points allowed and 29th in yardage. I guess you can say Gus Bradley's unit was at least kinda efficient. Clearly, that's not good enough, so enter Anarumo. Whether or not he can rebuild the defense is an open question. But at least he has another weapon at his disposal.
True, this isn't the same as bringing in your own version of Trey Hendrickson or Micah Parsons. Or as Jerruh Jones calls him, Michael. But even role players can be that one guy who secures that one crucial victory that makes the difference between a long offseason and a chance at the next win, then the next.
Undrafted free agent Johnathan Edwards will be a difference maker for the Indianapolis Colts
Edwards earned his chance in the Colts' defensive backfield when half of Indy's cornerbacks and their families went down with injuries this summer. GM Chris Ballard cast a wide net, first bringing in former Miami Dolphin Xavier Howard. It's questionable how much he has left, as he missed the entire 2024 season with a foot injury. He wasn't that great in 2023, for that matter.
Indianapolis compounded the questions by trading a sixth-round pick to the Vikings for Mekhi Blackmon. He was a solid tackler for Minnesota in 2023, but he's coming off an ACL injury that benched him for all of last year as well. The Colts look like they'll be trying Blackmon as a slot corner, where he played about half of his snaps with the Vikes.
Now consider that Blackmon had only three starts two years ago, and Howard will be - well, who knows how Howard will be? Edwards looked every bit the NFL prototype corner this preseason.
Standing 6'1" and weighing in at 200 pounds - read that aloud in Bruce Buffer's voice, you'll thank me later - the one-time Indiana State then on to Tulane defender flashes 4.42 speed. Size, speed, and a willingness to get after it make Edwards my choice for the surprise player entering Week 1.