2nd-Year Colts Players (Ranked By Sports Illustrated Reporter)

[Colts And Orioles]

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Ranking 2nd-Year Colts Players by 2026 Importance

(By Noah Compton)

https://www.si.com/nfl/colts/onsi/ra...026-importance




The Indianapolis Colts' 2025 draft class featured numerous year-one contributors, with more that were slated to play major roles had they not sustained season-ending injuries.

The Colts will be banking on the class in question as they enter a make-or-break season, one that sets the bar at making the playoffs. They currently have 11 2025 draftees ...... 8 draft selections and 3 undrafted free agent signings ...... that have stuck around going into year two.

We will be ranking all 11 2nd-year players from most to least important to Indianapolis' 2026 success, starting with a no-brainer of a No. 1 choice.




Tyler Warren


The 2nd-year tight end has already become a focal point of the Colts' offense after totaling 76 receptions for 817 receiving yards and 4 receiving TD's as a rookie in 2025.

His immediate contributions in both the pass and run games led to the Colts moving on from longtime wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. earlier this off-season, as the team will look to replace him with Warren.

Though a tight end and not a wide receiver, Warren's veteran tendencies and playstyle are worth betting on, as he, plus wide receivers Alec Pierce and Josh Downs, will make for a promising pass-catching trio.


Justin Walley


Walley was expected to play a major role in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's defensive backfield as a rookie, earning 1st-team reps throughout training camp that suggested that he'd be starting alongside Charvarius Ward Sr. before too long.

But after a pre-season ACL tear ended his rookie campaign before it could begin, the Colts were forced to pivot and ultimately went the blockbuster route of trading for star cornerback Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline later that regular season.

Walley is back in the mix for OTA's, and has been fully cleared for almost a month now. He is set to fill the massive void that longtime leader Kenny Moore II left in the slot, but the Colts' coaching staff is confident that he'll be able to continue what he started as a young pup in summer camp.


Jaylen Travis


Travis ended up starting in 4 games of relief for Braden Smith at right tackle last season, and now has the inside track to winning the opening that Smith left behind in free-agency.

Expected to compete with fourth-round rookie guard Jalen Farmer for said starting job, Travis sports a more natural tackle build at 6'8", 339 lbs, and has more experience at tackle than Farmer does.


Jaylahn Tuimoloau


The Colts are desperate for some added juice in the pass-rush room, particularly at defensive end, and as of now, they're more or less banking on Tuimoloau to emerge in his 2nd season.

Tuimoloau is poised to take advantage of the opportunity to start as a sophomore NFL player opposite Laiatu Latu, but he'll still have to earn the starting spot in question, while also proving to Colts decision-makers that adding veteran talent to shore up the room is not necessary.


Riley Leonard


He may be a back-up quarterback at the end of the day, whether that's at QB-2 or QB-3, but Riley Leonard must be prepared for regular-season action as Daniel Jones cannot be banked on to stay healthy for an entire 17-game season.

Leonard played in five games as a rookie and started in the Colts' season finale, going 39-for-67 (58.2%) through the air for 415 passing yards, 2 Passing TD's, and 3 INT's while also adding 2 Rushing TD's and 2 Fumbles on the ground.

Although it was not an all-time performance in a brief sample size, Leonard has the inside track to being Daniel Jones's immediate backup over Anthony Richardson entering the summer.


Hunter Wohler


Like Justin Walley, Hunter Wohler was set to take on a major role as a rookie before a Lisfranc injury ended his season before it could begin.

Colts coaches and executives have expressed their fondness for their 2nd-year defensive back pair throughout the entire rehab process, and are now welcoming them both back into the fold with open arms.

Although the Colts' 2026 3rd-round pick, LSU's A.J. Haulcy, is expected to earn the opening starting spot at strong safety that Nick Cross left behind in free-agency, Wohler is still expected to take on a role similar to what he was slated for as a rookie. He will more than likely be a major special teams contributor as well as a regular rotational piece in the defensive backfield, particularly as a sub-package defender in three-safety sets.


DJ Giddens


Giddens didn't produce much as a rookie, totaling 96 rushing yards on 26 carries (3.7 YPC) in 9 games played. This resulted in Jonathan Taylor being treated as the true bell-cow back that he is, but the 17-game season proved to be too much for Taylor at times, particularly in obvious passing situations.

The 2nd-year back flashed at times in training camp last year, but he'll need to showcase a newfound third-down ability if he wants to net some real playing time in year two. Giddens no longer has the backup role all to himself, as Seth McGowan's addition will make for a lively position battle throughout the summer.


Jonathan Edwards


Edwards was one of three original UDFA's to stick around throughout the offseason. He's also the only one of the bunch to get some real run last season as a UDFA rookie. The Colts have been high on him since he arrived, and that resulted in Edwards making the team's initial 53-man active roster.

Edwards remained on the active roster throughout the entire regular season, appearing in 14 games and starting 5 as a rookie. The Colts entered OTA's last week with a much deeper and healthier room than their 2025 53-man roster was, but it's hard to see a reality where Edwards doesn't remain in the cornerback rotation moving forward.


Tim Smith


Smith served as the Colts' lone draft-and-stash player from the 2025 draft class. He was on the practice squad for the entire 2025-26 regular season and is now looking to make the Colts' defensive tackle rotation in year two.

It'll be an uphill battle to climb, but the 32-year-old starting defensive tackle duo of DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart suggests that depth at the position will be a premium in 2026, especially considering the former is returning from a serious neck injury.


Ulysses Bentley IV


Bentley IV regularly flashed during training camp last year and became the Colts' de-facto RB-1 on the practice squad for the 2025 season. He will likely remain as RB-4 on the depth chart after DJ Giddens and Colts' 2026 7th-round pick Seth McGowan.


Coleman Owen


Owen was a practice-squad mainstay as a rookie in 2025, but he also appeared in 2 games solely for some live run as a returner. He only had 1 punt return that went just 2 yards, but he did take back his 5 kick-return attempts for 141 yards (28.2-yard average.) It'll be interesting to see if Owen reclaims the role of practice-squad receiver who could fill in for return duties on game day.

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[Dam8610]

They could sign Joey Bosa and not rely on JT Tuimoloau to break out.

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

They could sign Joey Bosa and not rely on JT Tuimoloau to break out.

#1. I don't think that Ballard makes a move for Edge defender until after the put the pads on in TC, so he can properly evaluate what he has.

#2. I would rather have Clowney if we are looking at FA Edge.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by YDFL Commish

#1. I don't think that Ballard makes a move for Edge defender until after the put the pads on in TC, so he can properly evaluate what he has.

#2. I would rather have Clowney if we are looking at FA Edge.

Why? He's not as good of a pass rusher, and run defense isn't exactly the impact I'm looking for from the EDGE position.

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

Why? He's not as good of a pass rusher, and run defense isn't exactly the impact I'm looking for from the EDGE position.

I'm only basing that on last seasons production per snap count. Clowney can get you 8 - 9 sacks just getting out of bed.

Bosa sack count combined, over the last two seasons is only 10.

[Colts And Orioles]

Originally Posted by YDFL Commish

I'm only basing that on last season's production per snap count. Clowney can get you 8 to 9 sacks just getting out of bed ...... Bosa's sack count combined, over the last two seasons is only 10.

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7 Pass Rushers Whom the Colts Should Consider Adding to Play Alongside Laiatu Latu

(By James Boyd)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...eveon-clowney/




Laiatu Latu doesn’t need any reminders of what’s at stake. The expectations were already high when the Indianapolis Colts selected him with the No. 15 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, making him the first defensive player off the board. Through his first 2 years, he’s shown flashes of being the game-wrecking defensive end the Colts envisioned he could be, but more is required in Year 3, especially amid the team’s defensive makeover.

Veteran edge rushers Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis are no longer on a roster that finished 23rd in pressure-rate last season (34.2%), according to Pro-Football-Focus metrics. And while arguments can be made for why none of them were retained, arguments could also be made that the Colts haven’t replaced them with upgrades. Indianapolis signed veterans Arden Key and Micheal Clemons, then drafted George Gumbs Jr. and Caden Curry in the 5th and 6th rounds, respectively. The Colts are also optimistic that 2025 2nd-round pick Jaylahn Tuimoloau, who hardly played as a rookie, can contribute in his 2nd season. But everyone in the organization knows the weight of its pass-rush will fall on the shoulders of No. 97.

“I definitely understand (the pressure), and I know that,” Latu said after OTA's this week. “I carry myself in that way, knowing that I’m relied on.

Latu tallied a stellar 14.7% pressure-rate and notched 8 1/2 sacks last season, up from the 4 that he had as a rookie. But he’s also one of the first to acknowledge how close he’s been to notching a few more sacks, which is what motivated him to get stronger this offseason. The plan with his retooled frame is to secure the sacks that were just beyond his fingertips before.

“I'm just making it easier to get dudes off me,” Latu said of why he added strength. “Or that last little stretch where the quarterback’s right there, I can just throw the offensive lineman by and make that play.”

Of course, Latu’s growth will be a huge part of any successful Colts pass-rush. But Colts GM Chris Ballard hasn’t ruled out the possibility of adding another veteran in free-agency. The Colts’ dream scenario would’ve been to add 4-time Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson, whom Ballard said that the team pursued in free-agency before the pass-rusher ultimately signed with the Baltimore Ravens, the team whom the Colts will face in Week 1.

While there aren’t any Hendrickson-level edge rushers left in free-agency, there are veterans on the market who could add some needed juice to the Colts’ defensive line while potentially taking attention off of Latu’s loaded plate ...... here are 7 vets whom they could consider.



Joey Bosa


Bosa’s name, like many on this list, carries more weight than his current performance. The 2016 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and5-time Pro Bowler is not the player he once was, but he played in 15 games last year with the Buffalo Bills, the most he’s appeared in since 2021, and held his own. Bosa, 30, posted 5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss and delivered 16 QB-hits in 2025 while playing 64% of the Bills’ defensive snaps. He has 77 sacks in his career.


Cameron Jordan


Jordan is a 3-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, but a few years ago, he appeared to be on his last legs. He compiled just 6 sacks combined in 2023 and 2024. The 2011 1st-round pick, however, had a resurgent 2025 campaign with 10 1/2 sacks, marking his 7th season with at least 10 sacks. Jordan, with 132 sacks in his career, and could be enshrined in Canton one day, but he turns 37 in July, so any questions about how much he has left in the tank are plenty valid.


Jadevean Clowney


Clowney has become something of a football mercenary, playing for 6 different teams over the last 7 seasons. But the 2014 No. 1 pick has still been productive in the latter stages of his career. Last season, Clowney notched 8 1/2 sacks, 12 tackles-for-loss and 10 quarterback-hits in 13 games for the Dallas Cowboys while remaining a stout run defender. The 33-year-old has totaled 66 1/2 sacks in his career, and his 23 1/2 sacks in the last 3 seasons are more than any Colts player has had in that span. (Kwity Paye, now with the Las Vegas Raiders, had 20 1/2 sacks during that same time period.)


Leonard Floyd


Floyd, like Clowney, is well-traveled, having played for 4 teams in the last 4 seasons. He appeared in 15 games last year for the Atlanta Falcons, but he only had 3 1/2 sacks while playing 49% of the team’s defensive snaps, the lowest mark of his career. Floyd, however, was a lot more productive with the San Francisco 49ers in 2024, posting 8 1/2 sacks and 16 QB-hits. He has 70 sacks in his career, but Floyd will turn 34 in September, so it’s fair to wonder whether or not he can turn back the clock.


Derek Barnett


Barnett spent the last 2-plus seasons with the Houston Texans, whose defense only allowed 17.4 points per game in 2025, the 2nd-best mark in the league. Star edge-rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter headlined the Texans’ fierce pass rush, but Barnett made his presence felt as well with 5 sacks in each of the last 2 years. Barnett, who turns 30 later this month, played just 34%t of Houston’s defensive snaps last year, though he’s proven that he doesn’t need a lot of playing time to make an impact.




* * * * * * * * )))))) Others to Consider )))))) * * * * * * * *



Denico Autry


The 35-year-old, who previously played for the Colts, was also a part of the Texans’ stifling defense the last 2 years. Though he dealt with injuries and missed 12 games in that span, he still notched 6 1/2 sacks and remains a solid run-stopper with the versatility to play inside and out.


Von Miller


The 8-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl 50 MVP had 9 sacks last year with the Washington Commanders. He has 138.5 sacks in his career, and even at age 37, his resume suggests that he’s still worth kicking the tires on for a team that needs a quality situational pass-rusher.

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