Should the Colts lean on the draft or free agency to build the roster?

There will be a mix, but does one seem more necessary than the other this year?

The Indianapolis Colts and Chris Ballard have been more than reluctant regarding free agency. As soon as the legal tampering period opens, they tend to sit on their hands and rely on the draft to build the roster. For overall team building and long term success, the draft is a great way to go. Player contracts are much cheaper and the ability to find diamonds in the rough has much higher odds. The draft, however, includes more uncertainty as there is no data available at the profession level. While the Colts will participate in both to some degree, there is one that needs to be more of a focus than the other this offseason.

Time for Ballard is running out. Heck, time for Anthony Richardson and Shane Steichen may be running out too. The Colts need to get better and fast. A plan for building through the draft is too futuristic and hasn’t been shown to produce enough results under this regime. Not advocating to throw the picks away but finding high ability starters in the first two rounds is the obvious target and about all that will most likely have an impact in 2025. Once again, don’t mortgage the future of the franchise, but the draft won’t produce the microwave results that are needed.

For more instantaneous results, free agency is needed. It has been less often used and can be dangerous. Teams can overspend and do long term damage if done incorrectly. On the other hand, it can be the best and by far, fastest way to compete. Using free agency to make important upgrades can be the difference between a below average season and a division championship. The Colts must compete for the division this year to keep people employed. Bring in a highly productive veteran and a few other key players and Ballard could be gainfully employed by the Colts in 2026.

Drafting quality talent will be key towards building for the future, but if the Colts want to win next year, they can’t wait. Sitting back, waiting and hoping talent will develop isn’t going to get it done. They must address key areas of weakness through free agency. This will produce instant results if done correctly. If not, it will be a long 2025 season.