The Indianapolis Colts must make some roster changes this offseason or risk that 2026 will turn out like seven of general manager Chris Ballard's first nine years with the team: Watching the playoffs instead of playing in the postseason. Many of these changes should be defensive.
The front seven of the Colts' defense is getting a bit older and lacks athleticism. This is especially true of the inside linebacker group, as Zaire Franklin is a good tackler and leader, but doesn't offer much else. The same is true of Germaine Pratt, but he is a free agent.
One easy way to help fix defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's defense is to get players with a lot more speed. While Anarumo doesn't ask his off-ball linebackers to do much other than try to stop the run and cover somewhat well (which they don't), he does need linebackers who can get sideline to sideline better.
Texas Longhorns might have the perfect player to help the Indianapolis Colts
One player likely available in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft who can help the Indy defense is Texas Longhorns LB Anthony Hill, Jr. Hill is a pure inside linebacker who is 6'3" and 240 pounds with excellent lateral quickness. He hasn't proven that he can be good in coverage, but Texas didn't ask him to do much in that area.
Pro Football Focus (subscription required) absolutely believes that Hill to the Colts would be a perfect fit for Indianapolis. In a recent article about perfect fits for each team, and knowing that Indy doesn't have a first-round pick, PFF pegged Hill to the Colts.
The site said, "The Colts don’t own their first-round pick after trading it away for cornerback Sauce Gardner. At No. 47, Indianapolis would be wise to upgrade a linebacker group that earned the third-worst PFF overall grade as a unit (40.8). The versatile Hill was an effective run defender, pass rusher, and coverage player throughout his three years at Texas."
Too bad that the pass rusher aspect would likely be wasted in Lou Anarumo's scheme. Sometimes the off-ball linebackers will blitz, but not as much as they should. Indianapolis fans can assume that won't change in 2026, as the DC has held his position for three different teams over eight years and hasn't adjusted that part of his scheme.
A move to draft Hill while letting Pratt leave in free agency would be wise. The issue is that free agency basically ends before the draft begins. The Indianapolis Colts could re-sign Pratt on the cheap and still draft Anthony Hill, but make no mistake: Indy has to get more athletic at inside linebacker or the defensive scheme will continue to be mediocre.