The Colts need to establish an identity, and the draft is a good place to start.
The Indianapolis Colts have an opportunity in front of them next week to carve out an identity for this franchise. As it currently stands, they are neither a defensive team nor an offensive team. Fans cannot point to one side of the ball and say, “that is where the Colts hang their hat”. Chris Ballard has spent a majority of the offseason improving the defense with two key signings in Cam Bynum and Charvarius Ward. Last year’s first round pick was spent on Laiatu Latu, and while the results are still to be determined, the belief and hope is he will make a jump in year two. Without being reckless, the Colts need to continue in this vein and really go all in on the defense.
“Build the monster” was the mantra of Chuck Pagano. It never really came to fruition during his tenure, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t worth visiting again now. This is said with the caveat of not overly reaching if top offensive talent is available, but if all things are equal, defense needs to be the focus. There are two main reasons for this: 1.) the Colts must establish an identify if they want to find success, and 2.) Anthony Richardson at quarterback is too much of an unknown. Will he be the quarterback in 2026 or even the end of 2025? To build to the strengths and ability of a player who might not be with the team in ten months would be unwise.
Draft picks can hit in any round. First rounders flame out while players selected in the seventh round can go on to the Hall of Fame. It can be a crapshoot. There do tend to be premium picks, however. Rounds one through four can produce some solid players, and it would behoove the Colts to use those picks to beef up the defense. Fans witnessed too many missed tackles and blown coverages last year. The amount of points given up and the overall defensive numbers are simply not going to win many games. Ballard needs to build something formidable that can last. A defense that can keep an offense within striking distance and create turnovers and wreak havoc is always of value, regardless of who is playing quarterback.
Defensive units can change in a heartbeat. Chris Ballard used free agency to improve and can drive the point home in the draft. He needs to choose a lane and run with it. Truly build a monster on the defensive side of the ball and watch the offense flourish because of it. If Ballard uses at least three picks out of the first four on defense, it could make a huge impact this year and beyond. If at least two out of those three hit, we could go from talking about building the monster to actually witnessing it on the field.
