The Indianapolis Colts clearly didn't believe in what the future of the defense was capable of after watching the relative mess that was that unit in 2025. Indy traded linebacker Zaire Franklin, didn't re-sign edge rusher Kwity Paye or safety Nick Cross, and inside linebacker Germaine Pratt is still a free agent, too.
That makes three starters (four if you count Paye) at the end of a disappointing campaign. The hope is that with a different culture on defense, as well as better health, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo can mold the group into a good one.
He could be helped, too, if general manager Chris Ballard takes FOX Sports' Ralph Vacchiano up on his recent suggestion of the Colts making a move to acquire Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker. Baker is an eight-time Pro Bowler and has twice been named First-Team All-Pro.
NFL analysts suggests the Indianapolis Colts should try to trade for safety Budda Baker
Vacchiano writes, "They lost safety Nick Cross in free agency, a huge hit to their defense that they have yet to adequately address. Enter Baker, who's 30 years old and signed through 2027? Surely, the rebuilding Cardinals would make him available and be happy to rid themselves of the remaining two years and $33 million left on his deal. "
In return for Baker, Indianapolis would give Arizona a third-round pick in the 2026 draft and a sixth-round choice in 2027. That certainly wouldn't seem to be an overpay for a 30-year-old safety who is still playing at a high level.
With the potential third-round pick, it gets complicated. Would Baker play better this year and next better than a 2026 pick? Almost certainly. The issue comes beyond 2027 when Baker will likely be diminishing due to age, while a younger player might be coming of age.
It gets even more complicated when an Indianapolis Colts fan knows that Chris Ballard and possibly head coach Shane Steichen need to make the postseason next season in order to keep their jobs. If they get let go, so might Lou Anarumo. A new GM or HC might want to hire their own people.
That could be a priority on trading for a player like Baker. Indy needs short-term success for job security for everyone involved, other than the ownership. One would hope anyway.
As for fixing the overall defense, Baker could help with that. The cornerback group looked solid with Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward, and Kenny Moore, but now the team is looking to trade Moore. The inside linebacker group is a mess. The team needs another good edge rusher besides Laiatu Latu.
One might safely assume that the Colts hoped that the hire of Anarumo would elevate an underwhelming defense, but Anarumo succeeds in keeping his job and getting hired despite the track record of his defenses. He's had one defense in his eight years as a DC rank in the top half of the league in terms of points allowed, and only two rank higher than 16 in yards allowed.
Anarumo certainly has his supporters, but the statistics over eight years don't back up that he is an elite defensive coordinator. Sadly, safety Budda Baker won't fix that if the team traded for him.
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