Two of the biggest, glaring needs the Indianapolis Colts need to address on their defense are linebacker and defensive end. While not totally vacant, both position groups are thin, especially at linebacker. At defensive end, while it's improved with depth, it has room for more.
The plan, as handed down by Colts general manager Chris Ballard, is to answer many questions about the Colts' defense in the draft. As far as depth is concerned, that's what Ballard has zeroed in on the most this offseason.
That said, depth can only get you so far, and if we zero in on the Colts' defensive end grouping, there is certainly room for more, considering their two current starters, Laiatu Latu and Jaylahn Tuimoloau, are just two and one year into their NFL careers. The concern remains, even though through depth additions, improvement was made.
Arden Key and Michael Clemons were good depth moves, but the Indianapolis Colts need more behind their starters
Former Tennessee Titans' Arden Key and New York Jets' Michael Clemons were two of the Colts' biggest depth free agent signings this offseason so far, at least on the defensive side of the ball. The holes left behind by Samson Ebukam, Kwity Paye, and Tyquan Lewis were answered with Key and Clemons, but they can't be the complete answer.
It's obvious that the Colts have great expectations for Latu, whose already shown his trajectory in the NFL is high, but after him, the stability at defensive end isn't as strong as it could be. Tuimoloau, who played in all 17 games for the Colts in his rookie season last year, started slow, but the Colts are hoping he will speed up in his second year as the starter opposite Latu.
The Colts banking on that could come back to bite them, or Latu is simply so good, and Tuimoloau bounces back in a big way that the trust the Colts have in them is justified. That said, with Key and Clemons as their backups, and Durell Nchami and Villiami Fehoko Jr. as the third-stringers, it paints a thin picture, even though Key and Clemons are solid depth pieces.
Ballard, at least, believes this, and recently spoke about how Key and Clemons additions help the Colts depth, pointing to health as the key factor going into next season.
"I do think with the addition of (Micheal) Clemens and [Arden] Key, I think we got better real depth, and they're healthy as of right now," Ballard said. "They're healthy, so I think that's a that's a really positive thing."
Key might have been the most under-the-radar free agent move the Colts made in the last several weeks. While he's never been a premium starter in the league, he might be right there, and given the questions the Colts have on the edge of their defensive line, Key could pop off this year.
By this time, it would appear the Colts are done with their free-agent hunting, which means the draft will be the time for them to address any and all positions, not only on their defensive line but across the defense.
What Ballard can't afford going into next season is still having so many unanswered questions, further putting the pressure on him to ace this draft. The Colts need some home runs, especially considering the money they have assigned to the offense with the Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce moves.
Depth moves like Key and Clemons were good, but the concerns remain. Indianapolis is expecting to compete next year, so any move they make in this offseason moving forward will hopefully be the right ones.
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