With training camp almost here, what is the biggest remaining need that the Indianapolis Colts still have?
With training camp almost here, and the roster-building of the offseason largely behind us, what is the biggest remaining need that the Indianapolis Colts could still look to fill?
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports recently answered this question, and not surprisingly, he selected the linebacker position for the Colts.
“Zaire Franklin led the league in tackles last season,” wrote Edwards. “In the other starting spot, Jaylon Carlies, who did some good things as a rookie, returns, but little is known about the options around him. If Carlies does not progress or Franklin were to suffer an injury, then performance could go downhill quickly.”
The Colts are very bullish on second-year linebacker Jaylon Carlies. Last season, when on the field, Carlies proved to be a sound tackler and, as a former college safety, did well at limiting pass-catchers, holding them to just 6.0 yards per catch, per PFF.
However, the big unknown here is the inexperience on the depth chart beyond Zaire Franklin. Entering the 2025 season, Carlies’ 242 career defensive snaps make him the second-most experienced linebacker on the Colts roster.
Helping this unit out should be Lou Anarumo’s defensive scheme, where there will be greater reliance on the defensive backs, which can help shoulder the coverage responsibilities, allowing the linebackers to play closer to the line of scrimmage more often.
What other positions could the Colts add to?
There are two other positions where the Colts could justify making an addition. One is at safety. While we know Nick Cross and Cam Bynum will be the starters, the depth behind those two is fairly inexperienced as well.
Although Rodney Thomas has played over 1,700 snaps, he was on the field for fewer than 100 in 2024, and no other players have any NFL experience. An addition here could be particularly valuable given that we are expected to see a lot more three-safety looks under Anarumo.
The other position where a move could potentially be made is along the interior offensive line. This doesn’t mean that Tanor Bortolini or Matt Goncalves won’t start, but having an added veteran presence behind two relatively inexperienced players could be valuable.
Do the Colts have enough salary cap space to make a signing?
Yes, they do. According to Over the Cap, the Colts have $20.139 million in available cap space, which ranks as the 19th most. While there are still some other cap expenses coming down the road, like assembling the practice squad and making sure there are in-season reserves, it’s not as if any addition at this time of the year is going to break the salary cap bank either.