Good news for Indianapolis Colts with defensive end free agent market
Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com put together his list of the top 101 free agents this offseason, and of interest to the Indianapolis Colts, 19 of those players are defensive ends.
This, of course, is a major need for the Colts this offseason. Some more good news is that this year’s draft class also has a lot of edge rusher talent.
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So the Colts will have options when it comes to tackling this need.
Looking at the current depth chart, this position group is very thin, with Paye, Samson Ebukam, and Tyquan Lewis all free agents.
In addition to that, more pass-rush production is needed. The Colts ranked 30th in ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric last season.
Latu was the only Colts’ defensive end to rank in the top 50 in quarterback pressures and in the top 65 in pass rush win rate, according to PFF.
The Colts are positioned relatively well in free agency this offseason to once again take a more aggressive approach. Chris Ballard also mentioned at the NFL combine that addressing the defensive front seven will be a priority.
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Below are the top five defensive ends in Rosenthal’s rankings:
No. 3: Jaelan Phillips
What Rosenthal said: “No NFL player made himself more money in 2025. After dealing with devastating injuries in back-to-back seasons, Phillips was excellent in Miami, then helped transform the Eagles defense with his complete arsenal. His best should still be ahead of him.”
No. 6: Trey Hendrickson
What Rosenthal said: “Only one season removed from finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, Hendrickson hits free agency again, this time as a 31-year-old coming off core muscle surgery. He’s a boom-or-bust signing for a team looking to get over the hump.”
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No. 9: Odafe Oweh
What Rosenthal said: “Oweh exploded as a pass rusher after being acquired by the Chargers in early October, finally finishing the plays he often missed in Baltimore. He’s not a great run stopper, but that’s not what teams pay for in free agency.”
No. 11: Boye Mafe
What Rosenthal said: “Mafe’s film is more intriguing than his stats. He is an incredible athlete who plays hard and can handle a variety of roles. He’s worth the premium he’ll cost.”
No. 32: Kwity Paye
What Rosenthal said: “Paye is more of an edge-setter than a great pass rusher; it’s telling that the Colts kept him around on his fifth-year option for last season but have not extended him. Some team will be dazzled by the physical potential of the former first-rounder.”
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts free agency: 19 edge rushers listed among top 101 free agents