The Indianapolis Colts’ defense underperformed in 2024, but 2025 could bring a major turnaround. Thanks to smart moves in free agency and promising opportunities in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Colts are poised to significantly upgrade their defensive unit.
Last season, Indianapolis ranked 29th in total defense, allowing 361.2 yards per game. A low point came in Week 17, when backup quarterback Drew Lock torched them for 309 yards and four touchdowns in a loss to the Giants. Clearly, there’s room for improvement.
Revamped Defense in the Making
This offseason, the Colts saw some notable departures. Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo left for the Chicago Bears, signing a three-year, $48 million deal after notching 16.5 sacks during his time in Indy. Linebacker E.J. Speed joined the Houston Texans, and safety Julian Blackmon remains a free agent, unlikely to return.
Despite these losses, the team added strong reinforcements. Defensive backs Charvarius Ward, Camryn Bynum, and Corey Ballentine bring depth and versatility to the secondary, while defensive tackle Neville Gallimore adds power up front.
Looking ahead to the draft, NFL.com’s Chad Reuter predicts the Colts will select linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the 14th overall pick and edge rusher Jordan Burch at No. 45. Campbell’s range and versatility would help offset the loss of Speed, while Burch’s size and explosiveness could fill the void left by Odeyingbo. These picks would provide a significant boost to a unit already anchored by leading tackler Zaire Franklin.
Reuter also notes that Indianapolis could address other key needs like tight end and interior offensive line in the middle rounds of the draft.
A New Era Under Lou Anarumo
After last year’s struggles, the Colts parted ways with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and brought in Lou Anarumo, the former DC of the Cincinnati Bengals. Anarumo helped lead Cincinnati to Super Bowl LVI and played a key role in limiting Patrick Mahomes during their AFC Championship Game win.
Now in Indianapolis, Anarumo inherits a talented group that includes cornerbacks Charvarius Ward, Kenny Moore II, and Jaylon Jones. If JuJu Brents can stay healthy, the secondary could be even stronger. Safeties Camryn Bynum and Nick Cross form a promising tandem. Up front, veterans DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart remain a dominant defensive tackle duo.
With established players like Zaire Franklin, Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, and rookie additions like Laiatu Latu already in the mix, the potential for this defense is high. Add in projected draftees like Campbell and Burch, and the Colts could very well field a top-tier defensive unit in 2025.
