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The Colts also signed Owens, formerly of the Bears, to a one-year contract. The Colts last S Nick Cross and backup S Rodney Thomas in free agency. Juanyeh Thomas, 25, played a career-high 294 defensive snaps last year and 110 special teams snaps. He earned a 69.0 PFF run-defense grade, an elite 90.6 PFF special teams grade and could compete for Cross’ vacated starting strong safety role. Owens, 30, played just 47 snaps on defense, but earned an 89.4 PFF special teams grade on 265 special teams snaps. At worst, the Colts added two difference makers to their special teams unit.

Ebukam led the Colts with 9.5 sacks back in 2023. He, unfortunately, ruptured an Achilles tendon during training camp in 2024 and was unable to play all season. In 2025, he sacked the quarterback three times and generated 23 quarterback pressures. At 30 years old, he may be best-suited to a rotational pass-rushing role.

Thomas has played more than 1,900 defensive snaps since the Colts drafted him in the 2022 NFL Draft’s seventh round. He played regularly in his first two seasons, but functioned as a backup over the past two. He should learn a thing or two by studying under Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, even as a backup. Macdonald deploys his safeties creatively and effectively.

The specifics of the contract have yet to be released. Nnadi, who has played all eight of his professional seasons with the Chiefs, saw his play on the field slip the previous two seasons, notching only 27 combined tackles across 12 starts and 32 appearances. The Colts have an established defensive line that also just added veteran Arden Key, making it likely Nnadi serves as a rotational piece and/or depth option along the defensive front.

Cross has played nearly 2,300 snaps over the past two years for the Colts, mostly as a box safety, with good run defense returns. The coverage ability came and went in 2025, as evidenced by a 50.4 PFF coverage grade. This contract outlay probably locks him into one starting spot in Washington’s safety room.

Clemons can make another million dollars via incentives. The former Jet totaled 4.5 sacks in 2024 as a full-time starter. His role declined last year and he fell to just one sack. A three-year deal suggests the Colts plan to give him more reps in 2026.

It can pay him up to $100 million. Negotiating off the transition tag, this honestly isn’t a big bump for Jones. It sounds like a lot of money because of how quickly the cap has gone up, but it puts Jones 12th among starters if he hits his incentives and 17th if he doesn’t, pending restructures for players like Matthew Stafford and cuts ahead of him for Kyler Murray. Jones enters the offseason as Indianapolis’ QB1, but rehabbing a late-season torn Achilles that will make his status for Week 1 shaky. Adam Schefter reports he’s expected to be ready to play Week 1 and may even be available in training camp, but we’re skeptical of that. Jones is best treated as a mid-range superflex QB2 in fantasy while we wait to see if he’ll be able to run full speed again.

A two-year extension for Jones, per Rapoport, could be done as soon as Wednesday. The team used the transition tag on Jones, who late last season tore his Achilles tendon. Though Jones reportedly wants around $50 million per year in a new deal, it seems unlikely he’ll get that much considering the nature of last year’s injury and his poor play over his final five games. Even if Jones is able to suit up for Week 1, he probably won’t be back to 100 percent health until later this season or sometime into 2027.

Smith would seem to push Trent Brown into a swing tackle role next year while giving the Texans a three-deep at tackle of Smith, Aireontae Ersery, and Brown. Smith, who turns 30 later in March, is coming off the two worst seasons of his career in Indianapolis but still managed a respectable 65.3 PFF blocking grade in 2025. It’s not an exciting move, but could lead to competency on the much-beleaguered Texans offensive line.

This comes from a source Holder spoke with, who suggested “8-10" targets a game could be in the range of outcomes for Pierce next season. Given the massive $116 million payday he received to stay with the Colts, and the team’s decision to trade away Michael Pittman, it’s safe to assume there will be more targets available for Pierce in 2026. That said, he’ll still have Tyler Warren and Josh Downs to compete with for targets, and the Colts will likely look to replace Pittman with a player not currently on the roster. Dating back to his college days at Cincinnati, Pierce has never been known as a target hog, but there will be added incentive to get the ball in his hands after his record-setting deal for a free agent receiver. Pierce profiles as a fringe WR2/WR3 until we see more targets come his way. In his breakout 2025 season he finished as a top-24 PPR receiver in 46 percent of his games.