The 2026 NFL offseason is setting up well for the Indianapolis Colts to tackle arguably their biggest positional need.
ESPN NFL analyst Ben Solak recently ranked each position group this offseason from strongest to weakest, taking into account both the league-wide free agent class and the incoming draft class.
At the top of the list was the edge rusher position. As Solak put it, it's a good year to need "any sort of edge rusher at all."
"If your favorite team's general manager can't find a good fit at edge rusher this offseason, tell him to take a hike," Solak wrote. "The main thing that impresses me is the variety."
With that said, Solak did add that it's a "bad year" to need a truly elite pass rusher -- unless trading for Maxx Crosby.
The need at defensive end is twofold. In one respect, the Colts simply need depth here. Samson Ebukam, Tyquan Lewis, and Kwity Paye.
Beyond that, as GM Chris Ballard said when discussing the defensive front, the Colts need "more fuel" up front.
Particularly from the defensive end position, the Colts struggled to generate steady pressure beyond Laiatu Latu. As a unit, Indianapolis finished the season ranked 30th in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric.
In part, the Colts' overall pressure numbers look okay because of the sheer number of opportunities they had to get after the quarterback with the defense playing with multi-score leads throughout the first half of the year. But from an efficiency standpoint, or when pressure was needed at a key moment late in a game, the Colts weren't effective enough.
However, whether it's through free agency, the draft, or both, Chris Ballard is positioned well to bolster this position group in the coming months.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Big opportunity for Colts to bolster major positional need in 2026