Defensive end is the top need due to free agent losses and past draft misses.
Linebacker is a clear second priority with key starters hitting free agency.
Safety depth is lacking, especially with uncertainty around pending free agent Nick Cross.
Colts rookie WR-Alec Pierce tries to make a catch.
Source: WESTFIELD, IN – AUGUST 02: Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) runs through a drill during the Indianapolis Colts Training Camp practice on August 2, 2022 at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS – The arrival of March means we are about to get some answers on the Colts and their plans in retooling the 2026 roster.
Free agency officially arrives on March 11th and the NFL Draft starts on April 23rd, so it’s time to rank the importance of positional focus for this offseason.
Here are my rankings of the Colts positions of need for 2026:
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Colts DE-Kwity Paye celebrates after a big play.
Source: GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 25: Kwity Paye #51 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium on December 25, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
-Defensive End: There’s no other position challenging for the top spot this year. One, the Colts haven’t received enough production from this premium position. Two, they have 3 of their top 4 defensive ends from last season bound for free agency. Defensive end has been a frequent draft miss of Ballard. But the position matters too much to stop swinging the bat.
Jacksonville Jaguars v Indianapolis Colts
Source: Justin Casterline / Getty
-Linebacker: I do think linebacker is pretty clearly on that No. 2 need line. Germaine Pratt, a nice starting find last season, is a free agent. And the Colts have been non-committal about a Zaire Franklin return in 2026. It would be surprising to me if the Colts kept their starting linebacker duo of Pratt and Franklin for a second season.
Colts safety Nick Cross practices with the Colts.
Source: INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JUNE 08: Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross (20) runs through a drill during the Indianapolis Colts OTA offseason workouts on June 8, 2022 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
-Safety: A lot of this revolves around Nick Cross and his pending free agency. The depth at safety though is lacking, even if a return of Cross occurs. Major investment at safety isn’t something we’ve recently from a lot of NFL teams. But the Colts still have some safety questions to answer this offseason.
NFL: DEC 07 Colts at Jaguars
Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
-Cornerback: Is this mostly in the insurance category? On paper, the Colts have a pretty notable cornerback position of Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward and Kenny Moore II. But given Ward’s concussion issues from last year, the age of Moore II and Justin Walley coming off a torn ACL, the Colts could use another cornerback body.
Houston Texans v Indianapolis Colts - NFL 2025
Source: Todd Rosenberg / Getty
-Wide Receiver: We have several questions at the top of the wideout depth chart that needs to be addressed. Is Alec Pierce returning? What are the Colts plans with Michael Pittman and his $29 million cap hit for the 2026 season? Those answers will have some say on how the Colts progress at receiver from there. If Pittman isn’t with the Colts in ’26, don’t they have to make some notable receiver move this offseason?
Indianapolis Colts v Houston Texans - NFL 2025
Source: Tim Warner / Getty
-Quarterback: Under the assumption that Anthony Richardson Sr., will be elsewhere in 2026, will the Colts add a veteran arm this offseason? Of course, we are following the expected return of Daniel Jones. Did Riley Leonard show enough in his game and a half of football to have a secured QB2 spot (QB1 until Jones is cleared from his Achilles rehab.
Indianapolis Colts v Houston Texans
Source: Perry Knotts / Getty
-Defensive Tackle: The main reason why I have this higher than last year is because it’s another year of age added to the tremendous careers of DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. And Buckner needing neck surgery is something you can’t ignore. Still, young DT Adetomiwa Adebawore had a nice third NFL season. And a re-sign of Neville Gallimore would make sense for interior depth. But the 2-to-3 year future at defensive tackle is where this position could use some off-season investment, especially as Buckner is entering a phase where injuries are starting to add up.
Indianpolis Colts v Kansas City Chiefs - NFL 2025
Source: Kathryn Riley / Getty
-Running Back: The Colts benefitted greatly in 2025 from a healthy Jonathan Taylor playing all 17 games, leading the league with 323 carries. Do the Colts need to add anything to alleviate some of that Taylor stress? The Colts do have D.J. Giddens (5th round pick in 2025) returning for his second season. The team likes Gidden,s but no special teams presence contributed to a very quiet rookie role for him.
Mo Alie-Cox pointing after first down
Source: GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 25: Indianapolis Colts Tight End Mo Alie-Cox (81) signals a first down after his catch during an NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Arizona Cardinals on December 25, 2021 at State Farm Stadium, in Glendale AZ. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
-Tight End: Man, did Tyler Warren change the makeup of this position or what? Now, in 2026, the Colts do have decisions to make on tight end free agents in Mo Alie-Cox (Age: 32) and Drew Ogletree (Age: 27). But this position doesn’t need some huge resource invested into it.
Colts OT-Braden Smith lines up at RT during a game.
Source: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 16: Braden Smith #72 of the Indianapolis Colts in action against the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 16, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
-Offensive Line: Assuming the Colts pass the right tackle torch from free agent Braden Smith to second-year tackle Jalen Travis, I don’t see much to debate with the offensive line this offseason. And that’s a major credit to Chris Ballard, who has drafted all 5 of the expected offensive lien starters for the Colts in 2026.