As we continue to look ahead to the Indianapolis Colts’ offseason, what are the big questions that general manager Chris Ballard needs to answer?
With the Colts missing the playoffs for five straight seasons and Ballard still at the helm, there are a lot of questions that must be answered if this team is to finally take a step forward.
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But as we sit here in mid-January, the Colts face three pressing questions.
What does Daniel Jones’ next contract look like?
It’s clear the Colts want Jones back, and Jones wants back in Indianapolis. So we’ll bypass the question of “Will he come back?” Instead focus on what his next contract looks like.
The Colts’ main reason for bringing the event back in 2026 is the organization’s belief that what happened in the first half of last season is repeatable and sustainable. Jones’ performance was clearly crucial to the early success.
But the problem is Jones is recovering from an Achilles injury. How quickly he recovers remains to be seen, both in dollar terms and contract length, and that uncertainty could impact negotiations.
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Spotrac recently predicted what Jones’ next deal might look like.
How aggressive is Chris Ballard on the defensive line?
As Ballard said in his end-of-season press conference, “more fuel” is needed up front. This is especially true on defense, where the pass rush has been too inconsistent all season.
This year, Indianapolis’ defensive line ranks 30th in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric.
In addition to pursuing more production, Quanti Paye, Ta’Quan Lewis and Samson Ebukam are all free agents, as is Neville Gallimore. Internal rejuvenation and increased depth may also be a priority.
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Ballard said the Colts are in “good” salary cap shape this offseason. Ballard also added that he believes the team will “continue down this path,” citing the more aggressive approach he took last offseason.
How does Ballard feel about the offensive line?
Brayden Smith is set to hit free agency, but rookie Jalen Travis has kept his spot at right tackle. If the Colts are confident in Travis moving forward, they could enter the offseason with all five starters under contract.
But even so, is more competition needed?
The Colts really struggled to get the running game going in the second half of the season. In the Colts’ final seven games, Jonathan Taylor did not have more than 100 rushing yards. He only had one game in which he averaged more than 4 rushing yards per game.
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Having a strong run game, especially one led by a player like Taylor, can do wonders for an offense and take a heavy load off the passing game. However, this element is missing.
Ballard even mentioned in the press conference that the Colts have to “be able to run it when we want to run it.”
So will adding content help improve the game? Are schematic changes required? Regardless, the Colts must improve against the run game.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 3 questions Colts general manager Chris Ballard must answer in the 2026 offseason
