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The Indianapolis Cots currently have the 13th most cap space in the league.
Now that the 2025 NFL season has wrapped, the Indianapolis Colts are in full offseason mode. Knowing that general manager Chris Ballard will remain with the team allows the front office to focus on solidifying the roster. While the Colts have several notable internal free agents to handle, Ballard displayed last season that he’s willing to splurge on players outside the building. Sports Illustrated released a piece listing three free agents who would be excellent fits for Indy.
SI writer Drake Wally named New England Patriots outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson as a player the Colts should keep an eye out for. Chaisson is coming off a career year in which he recorded 31 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 54 quarterback pressures, 18 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles. Chaisson’s addition on the edge would create a solid pairing with Laiatu Latu.
GettySpotrac has K’Lavon Chaisson projected to sign a three-year contract worth up to $26.9 Million.
Pro Football Focus graded the Colts as the 20th-best pass rush unit in 2025, so a splash along the line could be in store.
Wally acknowledged that, given the Patriots’ “immense cap space,” Chaisson’s chances of hitting free agency are low; however, he prefaced that the Colts’ dire need at the position could make them unpredictable in a potential contract offer.
Chaisson isn’t the only defender Wally predicts the Colts targeting.
DJ Reader Would Offer Familiar Depth Piece for the Defensive Line
GettySpotrac has DJ Reader projected to sign a two-year deal worth up to $7.7 Million.
Wally listed Detroit Lions defensive tackle DJ Reader as another optimal fit for the Colts’ defense. While Reader is 31, he played for Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo for four seasons in Cincinnati and would add some much-needed depth at the position. “The Colts have one of the most dominant defensive tackle duos in the NFL with DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, but they’ll both be 32 when the regular season starts,” Wally stated. Not to mention that DeForest Buckner is coming off season-ending neck surgery, one that could shake up his decision to continue playing.
“Reader put up 3.0 sacks (career-high) with the Detroit Lions in 2024 and had another solid season in 2025 with 28 tackles, 20 QB pressures, and a Pro Football Focus pass-rushing mark of 71.8 (24th out of 134 eligible defensive tackles).”
Reader offers another veteran presence that could help a potential replacement draft pick or Adetomiwa Adebawore develop.
Wally’s final suggestion would provide the team with a new leader in the middle of their defense.
Devin Bush’s ‘Do-It-All’ Ability Would Add Flexibility to Anarumo’s Defense
While Zaire Franklin has been a respected captain for the Colts’ defense in the past, he was severely limited in 2025. Pro Football Focus graded him as the 179th-best linebacker last season. In comparison, Wally’s next fit for Indy was PFF’s fifth-best linebacker last year.
GettySpotrac has Devin Bush projected to sign a three-year contract worth up to $8.9 Million.
“Devin Bush hit the NFL like a flamethrower when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019 out of Michigan with the 10th overall pick,” Wally wrote.
“Bush’s rookie season saw him put up an impressive stat line of 109 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and 1.0 sacks. After that, Bush’s production fell off a cliff with the Steelers, leading to him finding new destinations with the Seattle Seahawks (2023), then the Cleveland Browns (2024 and 2025).”
Bush rounded out back to his first-year form last season. “Bush catapulted back to relevancy with the Browns’ elite defense in 2025, setting career-bests in tackles (125), fumbles forced (two), and interceptions (three). He also took two picks back for defensive touchdowns.”
Bush is still only 27 years old and would add coverage flexibility to Anarumo’s defense, while his nose for the football would fit in well with a Colts’ defense that ranked 12th in takeaways last season.
“Bush is a do-it-all type of linebacker, and the Browns’ cap situation is a disaster, which could mean he’s a very realistic candidate for a linebacker-needy team like the Colts.”
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