
Judge grants Oklahoma LB Heinecke extra year
Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke granted an extra year of eligibility for 2026 after court ruling.
The Indianapolis Colts are assessing their defensive depth chart ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, with seven draft picks and potential free agent additions on the horizon. Current roster changes are expected before training camp.
With the 2026 NFL draft near, let's dive into the current state of theĀ Indianapolis Colts'Ā depth chart on defense.
What we see today will not be exactly what the roster looks like come training camp. With theĀ ColtsĀ having seven draft picks, along with undrafted free agency still to take place, there is a good amount of roster maneuvering that has yet to happen.
We also can't rule out Chris Ballard making a veteran free agent addition after the NFL draft, which is common practice around the NFL as teams look to round out their training camp rosters.
But what this exercise does prior to the draft is highlight where some of the Colts' more pressing roster needs may lie ahead of the NFL draft.
To view the current state of the Colts' offensive depth chart, you can find that here.
The Colts have added to the defensive end position in free agency, signingĀ Arden KeyĀ andĀ Micheal Clemons. However, ideally, both would be rotational players, just as Samson Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis were. We still do not know what the Colts have in JT Tuimoloau either.
For now, it would appear that the Colts still need to find that more high-impact presence to pair with Laiatu Latu, but admittedly, that may be difficult to accomplish without a first-round pick. So adding as much competition as possible for meaningful playing time may have to play a key role in elevating the play this season around Latu.
The Colts are evaluating their defensive depth chart as they prepare for the 2026 NFL draft, identifying pressing roster needs.
The Indianapolis Colts have seven draft picks for the 2026 NFL draft.
Yes, the Colts may pursue veteran free agent additions after the NFL draft, which is a common strategy in the league.
Roster changes are anticipated as the Colts finalize their lineup through the draft and undrafted free agency.

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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,
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.
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.
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