Do the Indianapolis Colts have an elite secondary? If you asked that question a couple of weeks ago, you’d get laughed at. But with a few moves the Colts have made this offseason, their secondary is surely looking like a great unit.
The Colts allowed 229.4 passing yards per game last year (26th in the NFL). Yeah, that’s not good at all. But perhaps, the new and improved secondary can get the job done next season.
Will the Indianapolis Colts Feature an Elite Secondary in 2025?
Offseason Additions Thus Far
Colts general manager Chris Ballard is usually not aggressive on Day 1 of free agency. However, he certainly wasn’t quiet this year. On Day 1, Ballard signed safety Camryn Bynum to a four-year, $60 million deal. Bynum is coming off a career season in 2024. He recorded 96 tackles, three interceptions, and 10 passes defended with the Minnesota Vikings.
Ballard wasn’t done with the Bynum addition. That same day, he also signed cornerback Charvarius Ward to a three-year, $60 million deal. Ward won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2019 campaign. He later had a breakout season in 2023 with the San Francisco 49ers. That year, Ward led the league in pass breakups with 23, and also produced five interceptions, 72 combined tackles, and held quarterbacks to a 64.5 passer rating when targeted. For his efforts, Ward earned second-team All-Pro honors and was selected to his first Pro Bowl.
This offseason, the Colts have added Corey Ballentine as well. The veteran cornerback spent the last three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He was primarily a special teams player last season, playing only eight percent of defensive snaps. Ballentine will provide Indy with much-needed depth at the cornerback position.
What to Expect in 2025
The Colts’ defense was horrible in 2024. That led to the team parting ways with Gus Bradley and replacing him with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Anarumo was fired by the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason following a lousy defensive season. Perhaps the main reason for that, though, was Cincinnati’s shortage of defensive playmakers. In Indianapolis, Anarumo possesses several quality defenders. Ted Nguyen of The Athletic wrote about that:
“The Colts already had pass rushers with DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye, and promising second-year defensive end Laiatu Latu. Now, they’ve massively upgraded the secondary through free agency with the additions of Cam Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward.”
The way it looks right now, the Colts will start Ward, Jaylon Jones, and Kenny Moore II at cornerback. Meanwhile, Bynum and Nick Cross are expected to be the starting safeties. Players like JuJu Brents, Samuel Womack III, and Rodney Thomas II will provide depth.
If injuries don’t get in the way, the Colts’ secondary could be an elite unit in 2025. Anarumo is a defensive guru who helped the Bengals reach Super Bowl LVI. Don’t look for the Colts to make a Super Bowl run next season. But with guys like Ward, Bynum, and Moore leading the way, Anarumo’s new secondary could emerge as one of the NFL’s best in 2025. Ward is Indy’s first true CB1 since Stephon Gilmore was traded in 2023. Bynum is a reliable and miltifaceted defender, and Moore is one of the league’s top slot cornerbacks.
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