Chris Ballard is a big believer in continuity. The Indianapolis Colts general manager has generally been quiet in free agency, instead opting to develop players internally and take modest gambles on veteran additions each spring.
Last fall, it looked like he'd found a winning lottery ticket. Daniel Jones usurped former top five draft pick Anthony Richardson as the team's starting quarterback. He played an efficient, high-impact dual-threat roll to get Indianapolis off to a 7-1 start and make the Colts look like the AFC's top team.
It didn't last. Jones played through a broken leg, then tore his Achilles. A 44-year-old Philip Rivers came out of retirement. 7-1 devolved into 8-9 and Ballard's seat grew to uncomfortable temperatures. His actions
in the months since suggest he fully believes a healthy Jones can do it again. Indy is largely running it back in 2026. Let's see what that looks like.
Key addition: LBs Akeem Davis-Gaither and C.J. Allen
The Colts turned over the middle of their defense, trading Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers and opting against re-signing an aging Germaine Pratt. Allen, a second-round pick who had first round buzz, brings youth and athleticism to the position.
Davis-Gaither, however, is nearing his 29th birthday and was brutal in coverage last season (a 133.8 passer rating allowed while lined up at linebacker). There's a way to make these puzzle pieces fit together. Can defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo find it?
Key departure: WR Michael Pittman Jr.
Was Pittman the spoon that stirred the drink in Indy? He was the team's second-most valuable receiver last fall, bouncing back from a subpar 2024 to provide a reliable mid-range presence who found space for easy gains. 2025 saw him lead all Colts non-running backs in average separation (3.0 yards) and catch rate (72 percent). He was second only to Tyler Warren in terms of targets, which will leave Daniel Jones in search of a new safety valve when he returns from a torn Achilles.
Pittman was costly compared to his production, but his presence helped everyone else in the offense operate smoothly in space. Will his absence make life difficult enough to erase the gains we saw from Jones, Warren and Alec Pierce last fall? Can an aging Keenan Allen fill the role he left behind?
Potential 2026 breakout player: EDGE Laiatu Latu
Latu was a solid rotational pass rusher as a rookie. In 2025 he was an above average starter. In 2026 he'll up his game to Pro Bowl levels or beyond.
After 42 pressures, four sacks and a 12.0 percent pressure rate in his first year, he boosted those numbers to 62, 8.5 and 14.4. Progress isn't linear in the NFL, but he looked the part of a star edge defender last season and, primed for more playing time, feels like a safe bet to hit double-digit sacks if he can stay healthy.
Position ranks
- QB rank (expected points added per dropback, via RBSDM.com): 6
- WR corps rank: 22
- RB corps rank: 10
- TE corps rank: 7
Will they improve in 2026?
Improving over the first half of 2025 will be incredibly difficult. Improving over the last half of 2026 will be babytown frolics. All in all, this feels like a classic 9-8 Chris Ballard team.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Colts 2026 season preview: Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde and Daniel Jones
