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The 2025 NFL offseason is one of the most crucial periods for the Indianapolis Colts in recent history. After making moves in free agency and the draft, how the Colts handle the late trade market to fill out their roster will be instrumental to their success in 2025.
Despite their focus on building around Anthony Richardson, the Colts signed just one offensive veteran in free agency. They added former Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert, but lost Ryan Kelly, Kylen Granson, Will Fries and Trey Sermon. Overall, Indianapolis certainly lost more offensive veteran talent than it acquired in the offseason.
Instead, Indianapolis made multiple noteworthy moves to improve its defense. They lost 142-tackle linebacker E.J. Speed, but landed star cornerback Charvarius Ward and premier safety Camryn Bynum. After signing Lou Anarumo to replace Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator, the Colts are just as committed to rebuilding their once-elite defense as they are to Richardson in the 2025 offseason.
But, despite their dedication to Richardson, the Colts are not fully committed to the third-year signal-caller. Indianapolis brought in former New York Giants starter Daniel Jones to compete with Richardson in training camp, in addition to drafting Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard in the sixth round.
With another loaded offseason ahead, Indianapolis remains in one of the strangest positions in the league. Unless they desire another five years of mediocre football, the ensuing months will be crucial for their long-term outlook. The Colts have serious ground to cover to fill out their roster before offseason training camps begin in July.
After losing Speed, the Colts’ linebacker corps is undeniably one of the weakest positions on their roster. Indianapolis returns Zaire Franklin, who led the league with 173 tackles in 2024, but its remaining linebackers combined for just 10 starts in 2024.
Jaylon Carlies, who started six games as a rookie in 2024, figures to start next to Franklin. Anarumo historically prefers deploying 4-3 sets, leaving another job up for grabs. As it currently stands, the opening will come down to Tyquan Lewis, Segun Olubi, Joe Bachie or Cameron McGrone. Lewis is the only one of the four who has started in the last three seasons.
Indianapolis needs to add experience to the group before the offseason ends. The free agency market is still abundant, but the Colts will find the best value via trade. With the New England Patriots investing heavily in the position in free agency, general manager Chris Ballard needs to keep an eye on Jahlani Tavai.
Tavai, who led the Patriots with 115 tackles in 2024, is as consistent a tackler in the league. But with Mike Vrabel taking over, the former Tennessee Titans head coach remodeled the locker room with several of his old players. In March, New England signed Harold Landry III, Jack Gibbens and Robert Spillane. Landry and Gibbens played for Vrabel in Tennessee.
While signing a pair of his former linebackers, Vrabel let two of the Patriots’ three incumbent...
