What grades from Pro Football Focus did the current group of Indianapolis Colts’ interior defensive linemen receive for their performances last season?
The Colts have one of the best duos at the defensive tackle position between DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. However, one area where this defensive line unit as a whole has to improve in 2025 is in getting more production out of the depth players behind Buckner and Stewart.
At a fairly heavily rotated position like defensive tackle, four or sometimes even five players see snaps each week. This puts a premium on depth.
To hopefully remedy this, GM Chris Ballard reshaped the room behind Buckner and Stewart by letting Taven Bryan walk in free agency, along with releasing Raekwon Davis. He also signed Neville Gallimore, drafted Tim Smith, and brought back Eric Johnson, who was claimed on waivers. Adetomiwa Adebawore will be entering his third NFL season as well.
How playing time shakes out beyond Buckner and Stewart, and who makes the final roster, will be one of the more intriguing training camp competitions this summer.
Now, as always, when it comes to PFF’s grading system, I always want to add the caveat that this metric is far from the be-all end-all when it comes to evaluating a player’s performance. It is one tool out of many that are out there and should be treated as such.
For some context around these metrics, here is a look at PFF’s grading system to provide some context behind the numbers:
Alright, now let’s dive in.
DeForest Buckner
PFF grade: 81.9
With missing five games, Buckner was still third on the team in pressures. Compared to his position group league-wide, he ranked seventh in PFF’s pass rush win rate, 12th in pass rush productivity, and ninth in run-stop rate. Buckner’s impact goes beyond the stat sheet as well, with the impact his presence has on his teammates around him.
Grover Stewart
PFF grade: 76.0
Stewart ranked seventh among all tackles in PFF’s run defense grade in 2024. He also logged the seventh-most run defense tackles and was sixth in stops.
Neville Gallimore
PFF grade: 49.9
Compared to other defensive tackles last season, Gallimore ranked 51st out of 120 eligible defenders in PFF’s pass rush productivity metric. He was also 133rd in run-stop rate.
Adetomiwa Adebawore
PFF grade: 57.9
Adebawore played just 137 defensive snaps last season. He totaled three pressures, one sack, and a run defense grade of 56.1.
Tim Smith
PFF college grade: 73.7
Smith moved around the defensive front at Alabama, filling multiple gaps, which we will see more of up front from Lou Anarumo. He was at his best as a run defender with a grade of 78.9.
Eric Johnson
PFF grade: 54.2
Johnson was released by the Colts during roster cutdowns last season and was claimed by the Patriots. With New England, Johnson played 178 defensive snaps, totaling four pressures and a run defense grade of 50.4.
Devonta Davis
PFF college grade: 69.8
Davis totaled 13 pressures and one sack in 2024. However, his greatest impact came as a run defender, where he routinely graded out well by PFF’s metrics. Out of 200-plus defensive tackles, Davis ranked 53rd in run defense grade and 92nd in run-stop rate.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: PFF grades for DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart and Colts defensive tackles
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
