The Indianapolis Colts are looking for a refresh in 2026. As the team enters the offseason, they are looking to improve the areas that led to a seven-game skid to end their 2025 campaign. General manager Chris Ballard aggressively pursued former All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner in a mid-season trade. NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe expects Ballard to pursue former All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson with similar intent.
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“Keep an eye on the Indianapolis Colts,” Wolfe said on The Insiders regarding potential suitors for Hendrickson in free agency. “It’s a team that wants to be aggressive…Lou Anarumo has a lot of familiarity with Hendrickson; they just hired a D-line coach, named Marion Hobby, who coached Trey Hendrickson for four years in Cincinnati. When they were all together, Lou, Marion, and Trey Hendrickson, they had 57 sacks and four Pro Bowl seasons.”
GettyThe Indianapolis Colts previously signed Mike Hilton, Josh Tuppu, and Germaine Pratt, all former Bengals who played for Lou Anarumo.
It’s not a guarantee that Hendrickson becomes available in the offseason. The Bengals could attempt to sign the upcoming free agent to a long-term deal or potentially franchise-tag him again. However, Wolfe reported that a reunion is “unlikely.”
Hendrickson was an AP First-Team All-Pro in 2024, along with the NFL sack-leader in that season with 17.5 QB drops. Hendrickson played in seven games last year after needing season-ending core-muscle surgery. In his brief play, Hendrickson recorded 16 total tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass defensed.
Trey Hendrickson Would Bolster An Uncertain Indianapolis Colts Defensive Line
The Indianapolis Colts were moderate on defense last year. Pro Football Focus graded them as the 25th-best defense overall, with their pass rush ranked 20th. Laiatu Latu was the team’s highest-graded lineman according to PFF (84.1), and while he’s a team lock for 2026, everyone else is more of a question.
The Colts’ next-best lineman was DeForest Buckner; however, he underwent season-ending neck surgery that could leave his future in doubt. Regardless, he is 31 years old, and fellow defensive tackle Grover Stewart is a year older at 32. Fellow defensive linemen Samson Ebukam, Tyquan Lewis, Kwity Paye, Neville Gallimore, Chris Wormley, and Eric Johnson are all free agents this offseason. While the Colts have the 13th-most cap space in the league, they still need to address Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce’s pending contracts.
Resigning all their unrestricted lineman then becomes unlikely, especially if they choose to throw Trey Hendrickson into the mix. Spotrac has Hendrickson’s value projected at $25.4 million annually across a two-year contract. Hendrickson’s inclusion would certainly elevate the Colts defensive unit, and Ballard relying on free agency over the draft may be expected.
Chris Ballard’s Free Agent Approach Centered Around Urgency
Chris Ballard’s aggressive free-agent approach is expected for two major reasons. Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon made it clear in her end-of-year press conference that while she is choosing to retain Ballard for another season, “another opportunity means that the sense of urgency for them to deliver and perform has never been higher.”
Ballard is incentivized to do whatever it takes to get the team over the hump. Then you tie in the aforementioned Gardner trade that cost the team two first-round picks. Without the assurance a first-round draft selection provides, Ballard’s best option for certain game-changers is through free agency.
The Colts are entering a very pivotal season, and Ballard could push all his chips to the center of the table, banking on the 2026 season.
Colts Expected to Aggressively Pursue Former All-Pro: Report