The Indianapolis Colts' defense has been a bit of an issue in 2025. Sure, the team is 6-1, but mostly because they are an offensive juggernaut. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo shouldn't be solely to blame, however. His unit has been banged up.
In fact, Indy's defense could be a lot better in the second half of the season. Hopefully, Charvarius Ward, the team's best cornerback, can stay healthy. He's missed three of seven games already and will miss at least another three after being placed on injured reserve.
But once he returns, as soon as Week 12, he is going to make the defense better. Fans cannot truly judge Anarumo's first season in Indianapolis unless he has all the pieces that the team expected. He might be doing the best he can with what he has.
The Indianapolis Colts should make a move for Maxx Crosby right now
One thing the Indianapolis Colts can do is acquire proven players at the trade deadline. Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby could be one of those guys. He is elite as chasing down quarterbacks, and Anarumo could use him in the same way he used Trey Hendrickson when Anarumo was the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Crosby will be expensive, both in trade value and contract value in the future, but he will also be worth it. He gets paid a lot because he is one of the best players at one of the most important positions in football.
Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension this past offseason, which included $91.5 million guaranteed. He would be with Indianapolis through 2028, unless he gets traded again. Assuming Indy stays good (and they should), then it is more likely that Crosby becomes an Indy legend than an Indy short-term player.
Should the Colts make a shock move for Maxx Crosby, according to Spotrac, the Colts would owe Crosby $20.3 million this year. The team will have to make that work somehow, but the salary cap is bendable, so if Indy wants to make it work, it can.
One issue might be that Crosby's $29 million salary becomes fully guaranteed in March. He'll carry a cap hit of $35.88 million in 2026, $29.78 million in 2027, and $27.28 million in 2028. That is a lot of money, but for one of the best edge rushers in the league, it ultimately isn't.
The real truth is that Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard making a major trade during the season, something he hasn't done with Indy, is very unlikely. This is especially true for an expensive player. Still, Indy adding Crosby would certainly make them a 2025 Super Bowl favorite.