Colts Offseason Hinges on Improving Defense

GM Chris Ballard signals defensive upgrades are top priority this offseason

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Indianapolis Colts are facing a critical offseason as they look to bolster their defense, which struggled with consistency and performance issues in the 2025 season. According to reports, GM Chris Ballard has identified the defense as a key area that needs significant improvement, with the defensive line, linebacker corps, and secondary all potential targets for upgrades through free agency and the draft.

Why it matters

The Colts' defense was a major weakness in 2025, ranking 21st in scoring defense and 23rd in yards allowed per game. Improving this unit is crucial if the team hopes to return to the playoffs and compete for a Super Bowl. With the Colts lacking a first-round draft pick, Ballard will need to be strategic in how he allocates resources to address the defense's shortcomings.

The details

In his end-of-season press conference, Ballard emphasized the need for the Colts' defense to get "more fuel" along the defensive front and become younger and faster overall. He identified defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker, and safety as positions that could see significant investment this offseason, either through free agency, the draft, or both. The Colts are well-positioned from a salary cap standpoint to address these needs, and this year's draft class is considered strong along the defensive line.

  • The Colts finished the 2025 season with a 21st ranking in scoring defense (24.2 points per game) and 23rd in yards allowed (349.8 per game).
  • Colts GM Chris Ballard discussed the team's defensive needs in his end-of-season press conference.

The players

Chris Ballard

The general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, who has identified the defense as a key area that needs significant improvement this offseason.

Stephen Holder

An ESPN NFL Nation reporter who covers the Indianapolis Colts and posed the question about the team's defensive needs this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“The Colts showed signs of improvement on defense last season, but the consistency wasn't there. Late in the season, things broke down, and Indianapolis finished 21st in scoring defense (24.2 points per game) and 23rd in yards allowed (349.8 per game).”

— Stephen Holder, ESPN NFL Nation reporter (ESPN)

“We must get more fuel along the defensive front. We've got to get younger and faster on defense.”

— Chris Ballard, General Manager (Indianapolis Colts)

What’s next

The Colts will need to be strategic in how they allocate their resources this offseason to address the defensive needs, particularly without a first-round draft pick. They will likely target the defensive line, linebacker corps, and secondary through free agency and the draft.

The takeaway

Improving the defense is the top priority for the Colts this offseason, as they look to build a more consistent and high-performing unit to complement their offense. With Ballard acknowledging the need for upgrades along the defensive front and throughout the defense, the Colts will need to be creative in how they approach the offseason to get the most out of their available resources.