PHOENIX — Colts general manager Chris Ballard did an excellent job stockpiling linebackers in the draft early in his career.
Indianapolis drafted Anthony Walker in the fifth round, landed Shaquille Leonard in the second, picked up Zaire Franklin in the seventh, added Bobby Okereke in the third round and drafted EJ Speed in the fifth.
For a while, Ballard found so many starting-caliber linebackers that the Colts arguably had too many.
Indianapolis needs to dip back into that well again. Ballard opened the offseason by saying the Colts need to get younger and faster on defense, and Indianapolis traded away middle linebacker Zaire Franklin in pursuit of that goal.
The draft sounds like the place to find speed.
“There’s some work that needs to be done,” Ballard said. “You never know how the draft’s going to work. … We think it’s really good in the draft at linebacker, at every level. Not just high, we think it’s good in the back part of it, too.”
The Colts likely need more than one linebacker in the draft.
Not only did Indianapolis trade away Franklin, but the Colts haven’t brought back Germaine Pratt, the veteran who stabilized the weak side. Indianapolis signed former Cardinals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither for an experienced option on the weak side, a player who was a nickel linebacker for half a decade with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo when they were together in Cincinnati.
Davis-Gaither offers a potential starting option, and insurance in case of injury.
“Davis-Gaither was with Lou, so he knows the system, has played a lot of football for him,” Ballard said. “That’s going to be a good transition.”
Jaylon Carlies is the other wild card on the roster.
Drafted in the fifth round in 2024 to make the transition from college safety to NFL linebacker, Carlies showed enough in 200-plus snaps as a rookie to get the Colts excited, but his career has been repeatedly derailed by injuries.
“J.C.’s one that’s unfortunately been hurt,” Ballard said. “We just don’t know. He’s as talented as anyone we’ve had, but he’s got to find a way to stay healthy.”
Because of the injury history, the Colts can no longer count on Carlies to break out, although they still believe he has it in him. With that in mind, another insurance signing could be on the way.
“There’s still some free agents that we could still consider,” Ballard said.
Ultimately, though, the stated goal to get younger and faster leaves the draft as the best option at linebacker.
Ballard has a history of finding talented, athletic players who are ready to contribute right away.
Time to do it again.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts GM Chris Ballard must tap into history of finding starting LBs in draft
Reporting by Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
