Current state of Colts' defensive depth chart before 2026 NFL draft

Colts' defensive tackle depth chart

• DeForest Buckner
• Grover Stewart
• Colby Wooden
• Adetomiwa Adebawore
• Jerry Tillery
• Derrick Nnadi
• Tim Smith

With the additions that the Colts made at this position this offseason, adding to defensive tackle in the draft is no longer a need. However, the draft is also about planning ahead, and if we look to the 2027 offseason, none of the players currently on the roster are under contract. The prudent move for Ballard would be to begin preparing for that by making an addition -- or two -- now. But that may not be a luxury the Colts have with relatively limited draft capital,

Colts linebacker depth chart

• Akeem Davis-Gaither
• Jaylon Carlies
• Austin Ajiake
• Devin Versuk
• Joseph Vaughn
• John Bullock

Even with the addition of Davis-Gaither, this is a position group very short on experience. The next most experienced player on the roster at linebacker is Jaylon Carlies, who has played 244 career snaps -- most of which came in 2024. Depth is needed, and more competition for playing time is needed. You name it, the Colts need it at linebacker. This is a position where Ballard should be double-dipping in the NFL draft.

Colts cornerback depth chart

• Sauce Gardner
• Charvarius Ward
• Kenny Moore
• Justin Walley
• Cam Taylor-Britt
• Mekhi Blackmon
• Cameron Mitchell
• Jaylon Jones
• Johnathan Edwards
• Robert Carter Jr.
• Wyett Ekeler

Kenny Moore is on the roster for now, but that could change by the end of the NFL draft. Even without Moore, the Colts still have a strong cornerback room -- especially if Walley can be the player that Indianapolis believes he can -- so I don't know that Moore's leaving drastically changes the match at this position heading into the draft. But the likelihood of the Colts spending some sort of pick on the cornerback spot has increased for the reasons mentioned.

Colts safety depth chart

• Cam Bynum
• Jonathan Owens
• Juanyeh Thomas
• Hunter Wohler
• Daniel Scott
• Nasir Adderley
• Reuben Lowery III
• Trey Washington
• Ben Nikkel

The Colts have now signed Adderly, Owens, and Thomas in free agency. Also on the roster is Wohler, who will also be in the mix for the starting job next to Bynum. Whether any one of those players can secure the starting role and provide a consistent presence is unknown, but with several players competing for those snaps, the Colts are at least giving themselves options. All of these additions, however, shouldn't stop the Colts from making an addition here in the draft.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Evaluating Colts' depth chart on defense