How many of the NFL’s top quarterbacks will the new-look Indianapolis Colts’ defense have to contend with this season?
How many of the NFL’s top quarterbacks will the new-look Indianapolis Colts’ defense have to contend with this season?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently constructed his ranking of the top 10 quarterbacks in 2025 based on insights from NFL executives, coaches, and scouts.
Of the top 10 quarterbacks in these rankings, the Colts are set to face three of them.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas CityMatthew Stafford, LA RamsJustin Herbert, LA Chargers
Out of the eight additional quarterbacks who were either honorable mentions or received top 10 votes, the Colts will face six of those quarterbacks this season.
CJ Stroud, Houston (twice)Kyler Murray, ArizonaBrock Purdy, San FranciscoBo Nix, DenverTua Tagovailoa, MiamiAaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh
After the Colts’ pass defense ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed, completion rate, pass deflections, and passer rating, GM Chris Ballard reshaped this unit.
He would spend big in free agency this offseason to bring in safety Cam Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward. Ballard also bolstered the depth by signing veteran Corey Ballentine, along with drafting Justin Walley in the top 100 and Hunter Wohler in Round 7.
In addition to the personnel moves made by the Colts, Shane Steichen also brought in a new defensive coordinator in Lou Anarumo, who can hopefully elevate the play of the entire defensive unit.
Under Anarumo, we will see a much more malleable and quick-to-adjust defense based on what each opponent is doing. This is also going to be a more aggressive and disguise-heavy defense that should better position the secondary to make plays on the football and provide the defensive front with an additional split second or two to get to the quarterback.
“Really the aggressive mindset,” Bynum said of Anarumo’s defense when asked how it compares to Brian Flores’ defense. “That’s one thing that they share and they have in common, and that’s the mindset that I love to have on defense.
“That we’re going to send pressure, that we’re going to mix things up, variations of everything, but at the end of the day we want to go down with our best guys being aggressive and that’s the mindset I like to have. I don’t want to sit back and just let things happen in front of us, I want to be able to command the offense to be able to do what we want them to do.”