If you were to set up the additions and subtractions that Chris Ballard has made to the Indianapolis Colts roster this offseason in the form of a trade, it would look like one of the worst trades in league history.
Gone: Michael Pittman, Jr., Zaire Franklin, Kwity Paye, Braden Smith, Nick Cross, Neville Gallimore, Samson Ebukam, Rodney Thomas, Danny Pinter, Tyler Goodson, and Segun Olubi.
The new players the Colts’ general manager has brought in to replace those eleven departures are Michael Clemons, Arden Key, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Jerry Tillery, Derrick Nnadi, Cam Taylor-Britt, Jonathan Owens, Nick Westbrook, Juanyeh Thomas, and Colby Wooden. He also has a pick swap, moving up from the seventh to the sixth round in the 2026 draft.
Feeling confident, Colts’ fans?
Are there any UFAs still out there who could help the Indianapolis Colts in 2026?
Now, Ballard was somewhat limited this year because his two overwhelming priorities were re-signing Alec Pierce and extending Daniel Jones. He accomplished both missions, and it did make a dent in the team's salary cap cushion. But this offseason haul still seems very thin.
Only two of the ten new players are signed beyond the coming year. That’s not always a bad thing, but it does suggest that 2026 is a transitional year. Ballard certainly isn’t going all in to try to win now. Perhaps that’s the smart move. It’s just that for a team forever mired in mediocrity, that is not an easy strategy to accept.
The nine free agents and one trade acquisition carry an average yearly salary of 2.8 million dollars. That price falls between Ashton Dulin and Rigoberto Sanchez on the current salary table. No offense to either player, but they are a couple of special teamers.
So Ballard lost five starters and several valuable rotational pieces for what amounts to a big group of replacements with the relative value of special teamers.
That’s not a sustainable plan.
Granted, the roster building is not complete. The Colts will add seven draft picks in a few weeks, though none are in the top 40. They might get some good players, but they are not likely to find a real game-changer without a first-round pick.
So with all that in mind, are there any players still available in free agency who could actually contribute in 2026? There are. I’ve got three potential additions. But first, let me remind everyone that Germaine Pratt is still unsigned, and it's very hard to figure out why.
Pratt is not exactly a game-changer. But he seemed to perform well for Indy last year, and he is well-versed in Lou Anarumo’s defensive schemes. The Colts have a shockingly low level of experience and production at the linebacker spot right now, so re-signing Pratt would seem like a small, safe way to improve.
We will see if that happens. Meanwhile, Ballard should strongly consider these three options.
Mike Danna, Edge rusher, 2025 team – Kansas City
Danna is not a star. He averaged 3.5 sacks over six seasons with the Chiefs. But he was a pretty good rotational edge, who could rush the passer, play the run, and drop into coverage on occasion. Though I would not suggest Danna has the talent of Kwity Paye, there really isn’t all that much difference between the two players.
Danna was a valuable backup for Kansas City through multiple championship runs, and he was released as a result of the Chiefs’ terrible cap situation. He may be waiting to choose his next destination, or he may be hoping that when the roster dust settles, he will be back with the Chiefs.
But he would certainly look good on the Colts, joining Key and Clemons as sidekicks for Laiatu Latu on the edge.
Najee Harris, Running back, 2025 team – Los Angeles Chargers
After four straight 1,000-yard campaigns for the Steelers, Harris' first and seemingly last season with the Chargers was sabotaged by a torn Achilles. His health – both the specific Achilles recovery and the general wear and tear of more than 1,000 carries in the four years before 2025 – is an obvious concern.
But if Harris checks out health-wise, he would be a godsend for Jonathan Taylor and the Colts’ offense. Harris does not break big runs, but he gets tough yards in the middle of the line. If he is even close to his pre-injury form, Harris could save Taylor from a lot of punishment this season.
Antonio Gibson, Running back, 2025 team – New England
Gibson is not the workhorse that a healthy Harris would be. But he would come without Harris’ wear and tear. Gibson is a much quicker, more explosive runner who could spell Taylor differently. He also brings added value as a receiver and kick returner.
However, like Harris, he is coming off a major injury, so his knee will have to be checked out. Even before he tore his ACL early last year, Gibson had ceded his running back spot to the Patriots' bigger backs, TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson. He was not going to be a big piece of the Pats backfield.
In Indianapolis, he could take a much larger role as Taylor's primary backup. Gibson was a college receiver, and he has never displayed the vision of a great runner, but he has gotten better during his six seasons. Perhaps playing behind a brilliant natural runner like Taylor could benefit both parties.
These are relatively small moves that will only nudge the needle ahead a bit. But since Ballard has done almost nothing this offseason to move that needle even an inch, they would constitute positive developments.