The Indianapolis Colts have made significant moves this offseason, particularly bolstering their secondary with big-money contracts for safety Cam Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward. However, as the 2025 season approaches, the front seven still needs attention, especially after losing key edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo to the Chicago Bears in free agency.
With Odeyingbo gone, the Colts are in search of a reliable replacement to fill the void on the defensive line. According to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, free agent defensive end Za'Darius Smith could be the perfect fit for the Colts' pass rush.
"Za'Darius Smith is one of the top edge-rushers still available and would be an immediate contributor in Indy," Knox stated. Smith, who had a solid half-season with the Detroit Lions in 2024, tallied four sacks, three tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hits in just eight games.
Entering his 11th NFL season, Smith remains a productive edge rusher despite his age, finishing with nine total sacks in 2024. What’s more, Smith has been remarkably durable throughout his career, starting at least 16 games in each of his last three seasons.
With the Colts banking on Samson Ebukam to return strong from injury, adding a reliable veteran like Smith could give the team a much-needed boost in the pass rush ahead of the draft.
Smith's previous two-year, $23 million contract with the Browns expired after the 2024 season, and a potential deal with the Colts is expected to be around $10 million—a figure that would use up nearly half of their remaining cap space.
If Ballard is looking to strengthen the defensive line without breaking the bank, Smith could provide an affordable solution to ramp up the Colts' pressure on quarterbacks this season.
