Colts have made a pair of depth signings already at defensive end, with Arden Key looking like a potential upgrade in pressure generation (11.2% Pressure Rate in 2025) from the Samson Ebukam (9.8%), Kwity Paye (9.6%), and Tyquan Lewis (8%) trio in 2025, and Micheal Clemons providing depth in run defense with his size, power, and length.
But the Colts still need more Umph! in their pass rushing rotation. Either they need a true starter to be on the other side of young ascending pass rusher Laiatu Latu, or they need a designated pass rusher who can add to the rotation and provide some efficient pass rushing in a smaller situational role. Post-Trey Hendrickson signing with the Ravens and with Maxx Crosby’s trade value still too high for the Colts without Round 1 picks in 2026 and 2027… who is available for the Colts to add to their Defensive End rotation? What kind of production would they bring to the Colts? Teams don’t often trade away good pass rushers, so what’s the rub?
Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Viking
2025 Stats: 47 Pressures (17.4%), 3 Sacks, 77.8 Run Defense Grade
The Good
Greenard is arguably the top pass rusher available on the market not named Maxx Crosby. He had the 2nd highest pressure rate among these available Defensive Ends and had the 2nd highest run defense grade in 2025. From 2023-2024 he had 24.5 sacks as well, earning a Pro Bowl berth in 2024. He is still in prime years for a pass rusher at age 28 (going to be 29 in May) so he should have several highly productive years left.
Contract wise Greenard also has a reasonable deal with the Colts needing to pay him just $12.25 million in 2026 after his trade before being on the hook for his full $22.3 million cap hit in 2027 (and a small $3.3 million void year in 2028).
The Bad
Greenard’s sack total in 2025 took a nosedive despite his career high pressure rate. He would need to return to 2023-2024 levels or would need to maintain his high pressure rate to help generate more clean-up sacks for the rest of the line. Considering his pass rushing history, I’m not too concerned on this front.
But the big question with Greenard is health. His 2025 season ended in Week 15 with a Shoulder injury that sent him to the injured reserve, but he also has dealt with foot and ankle issues from 2021 to 2023, which cost him 16 games in that three year span. While he bounce back from the latter and had a Pro Bowl season in 2024, the repeated injury history in his lower legs is a flag to monitor and the shoulder injury remains a question.
There is also the matter of acquiring Greenard. Getting him via a trade with the Vikings won’t come cheap, and would cost the Colts significant draft capital. For a team already missing their Round 1 pick for the next two years, that means Day 2 draft capital would need to go. Perhaps including Quarterback Anthony Richardson in the deal (who the Vikings have previously expressed belief in and were willing to trade a ton of capital to get in the 2023 draft) would lessen the amount of draft capital the Colts would need to send, but to what extent is unclear.
Overall Greenard would be a significant upgrade for the Colts at Defensive End as full time starter opposite of Laiatu Latu. There is certainly risk in making the move for him, especially if his trade cost is high, but the potential reward of forming the best Colts edge rusher due since Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis is enticing.
Josh Sweat, Arizona Cardinal
2025 Stats: 47 Pressures (13.2%), 12 Sacks, 69.8 Run Defense Grade
The Good
Josh Sweat has had the 11th most sacks (45) in the NFL since becoming a starter in 2021. In that span he has been a Pro Bowler (2021), has had a pair of 10+ sack seasons (11 in 2022, and the aforementioned 12 sacks in 2025), and has grown into a solid run defender (albeit one who has consistently had over twice as many pass rush snaps as run defense snaps).
He also proved in 2025 that he could win outside of the Eagles with their dominant Defensive Tackles in his first year with the Cardinals. Despite that individual success, he requested a trade this week from the Cardinals just 1 year into his new contract. If he is dealt so quickly into his deal the cap savings would be minimal, meaning whoever gets him could have him for just $1.6 million against the cap in 2026 unless they agree to take on more of his guaranteed money financial burden.
The Bad
Sweat has been a starter, but not as much of an every down defender as Greenard with his rotational splits taking him out on run downs. He has shown skill as a run defender, albeit in more limited snaps than other starting Defensive Ends. He still has good size at 6’5 and 265 lbs, so he can set a solid edge when called upon.
But like Greenard, the bigger concern is Sweat’s health history. Sweat’s history is more lengthy and varied than Greenard’s with:
- Pre-Draft: Major Left Knee injury with a torn meniscus. Was severe enough to cause him to fall to Round 4 in the Draft despite being a Round 1-2 graded Defensive end.
- 2018: Rookie year ended 9 games in and with only a handful of snaps due to a severe ankle injury.
- 2020: Went on Injured Reserve in Week 15 due to a wrist injury, ending his season.
- 2021: Missed some games with a November concussion. Suffered a life threatening artery rupture before the Wild Card round, causing him to miss the playoffs.
- 2022: Carted off the field Week 17 with a neck injury, returned in the playoffs.
- 2024: Suffered an ankle injury in November that got re-aggravated in game 2 times in December, but returned mid-game each time and played through it.
- 2025: Had an ankle and knee injury occur in Week 16 but returned in the game and was able to play despite the questionable injury report tag rest of season.
His ankle and knee issues have been reoccurring over the course of his career but he’s still been highly productive despite it. Unlike Greenard, Sweat is currently healthy by all indications after the season with his ankle and knee getting needed rest, so there is less of a question of his current health at least.
Overall
With his production history and the affordability of his 2026 cap hit Sweat also should command a strong trade value. The Cardinals also have a need at QB and could be a fit for Anthony Richardson to go to in a trade, potentially lessening the amount of draft capital the Colts would have to send to get him. The risk and the trade price are clear, but like Greenard there is significant reward potential as well.
Which pass rusher would you prefer to be the newest Colts addition? Let us know in the comments below.
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