The Indianapolis Colts defense has a loaded defensive front four, a great linebacker tandem, and a young secondary looking to take the next step.
The unit enters its third season working under defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and has had middling results with flashes of upside. Bradley's unit ranked 28th in points per game and 24th in yards per game during the 2023 season.
Though they didn't add much to the secondary, they did add some depth to the interior defensive line while using their first-round pick on a polished edge rusher.
Colts Depth Chart Projections: Offense | Defense
Earlier, we took a look at ranking the 11 most important players on the offensive side of the ball.
Which players are the most important to the defensive unit’s success? Here are 11 players that fit the bill:
Colts' 11 most important players on defense ranked
1. DT DeForest Buckner
Buckner is the best player on Indy’s defense and if he had to miss any time in 2024, his loss to the unit would be monumental. He’s finished with at least seven sacks, 18 QB hits, and 10 TFLs in each of the last three seasons. Outside of his on-field performance, Buckner is a locker room leader who commands the defense side of the ball.
MORE: Colts' DeForest Buckner gets love in 'players over 30' ranking
2. CB Kenny Moore II
The veteran leader of the Colts' secondary is irreplaceable for what he brings to the defense. He’s one of the best nickel corners in the league, a locker room leader, and the voice the younger cornerbacks will lean on during the 2024 season. Outside of his coverage, Moore II’s ability to defend the run and his threat as a blitzer are underrated parts of his game.
3. LB Zaire Franklin
Franklin has been a tackling machine for the Indy defense. In the last two seasons has amassed 346 tackles, 15 TFLs, four-and-a-half sacks, nine QB hits, 12 pass defenses, and four forced fumbles. Franklin is a key piece for the Colts' success in 2024 as he looks to earn his first Pro Bowl honor.
MORE: Colts' Zaire Franklin egregiously snubbed in NFL LB rankings
4. DT Grover Stewart
The Colts have one of the best run-defenders in the NFL in Stewart. It was very apparent how important he is to the Indy defense when the rush defense dropped off during his six-game suspension in 2023. Stewart is a space-eater that allows his linebackers to flow freely to ball carriers.
5. SS Julian Blackmon
Blackmon is coming off the best season of his career where he had a career-high in tackles (88), TFLs (five), pass defenses (eight), and interceptions (four). He has yet to play a full schedule in his career, that is something that the Colts need out of him in 2024. With Daniel Scott rupturing his Achilles during OTAs, the safety group is thin for Indianapolis, which makes Blackmon more important for the backend of the defense this year.
6. LB E.J. Speed
The development of Speed from his rookie to his fifth season is a key reason why the Colts were comfortable letting Bobby Okereke walk in free agency in 2023 and moving on from Shaquille Leonard last season. Not only what he brings on the field as a player has him this high on the list but the unproven linebacker depth beyond Speed and Zaire Franklin is why he is needed more in the 2024 season.
7. CB JuJu Brents
With Chris Ballard electing to not bring in a veteran cornerback thus far, the Colts need JuJu Brents to make a jump in his Year 2. He flashed his potential during his rookie season but battled through injuries. Indianapolis needs a healthy season from the 2023 second-round pick because they will be leaning on him to battle with the opponent’s No. 1 receivers which is why he is more important heading into his sophomore year.
PSA: Just a reminder that this ranking is of importance to the defense’s success in 2024. The following group of edge rushers would be higher if this list was based on talent and performance but with the edge rushers having starting-caliber players that will be in a backup role, the group can manage if a starter had to miss any time, unlike the other position groups.
8. EDGE Samson Ebukam
Ebukam made a quick impact in his first season with the Colts in 2023. Setting career highs in tackles (57), TFLs (10), sacks (nine-and-a-half), QB hits (17), and forced fumbles (three). Ebukam was a good match for the LEO role in Gus Bradley’s defense.
9. EDGE Kwity Paye
The pressure is on for Paye to elevate his game after the selection of Laitu Latu. He is coming off the best season of his career with career highs in tackles (52), sacks (eight-and-half), and forced fumbles (two). Paye doesn’t get enough credit for how good he is as a run defender for the Indy defense.
MORE: Colts have yet to begin contract talks with former first-round pick
10. EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo
After putting together his best season as well in 2023, Odeyingbo has set himself up in a position where he does need more time on the field in 2024. Last year he had career highs in tackles (38), TFLs (nine), sacks (eight), QB hits (17), and forced fumbles (two) while playing just 53% of the defensive snaps..
His versatility allows Gus Bradley to come up with a variety of packages on how to deploy him with the rest of the defensive front.
11. EDGE Laitu Latu
The 2024 first-round pick for the Colts will have an opportunity to push for a starting role this preseason. Latu comes into the league as a polished pass rusher who brings versatility to kick inside as needed for Gus Bradley. The Indy defensive front loaded up with Latu and now we await on how the position battles will play out and what the rotation will look like in 2024.
For more Colts coverage, check out Cody Manning's work on Sporting News.
