Despite Re-Signing Muhammad, Colts Still In Need of Dominant Edge Presence

There are very few weak spots on the Colts’ roster, but defensive end is still one of them.

Re-signing Al-Quadin Muhammad, who’s been a solid rotational player for the team during each of the last two seasons, shouldn’t stop Indy from making a more notable move at defensive end.

After missing out on some of the league’s bigger-name free agents, it’s likely that the best option for the team will be to address this issue via the draft.

Many of the remaining free agent defensive ends have cause for concern, too. Either the player has an inability to stay healthy, they’re too old, or they don’t perform at a consistent and elite level throughout the season.

Then again, the team’s current pass rush group isn’t exactly something to write home about, either. As it currently stands, the Colts’ pass rushers include Tyquan Lewis, Isaac Rochell, Ben Banogu and Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Kemoko Turay.

While there’s still mutual interest between Justin Houston and the Colts, according to The Athletic’s Stephen Holder, there’s no guarantee the two sides come to an agreement. And, honestly, Houston would merely be a stop-gap solution for the team once again.

It wouldn’t be wise for the Colts to bank on any of their current defensive ends long-term. Turay and Lewis have been average at best, Banogu has been a major disappointment thus far, and I’m not exactly sure what Rochell is going to bring to the table either.

Failing to make a notable move at defensive end would be detrimental to a defensive unit that was amongst the NFL’s best last season. In today’s pass-heavy NFL, which is flooded with QBs who can extend and make plays off-script, having a dominant edge rush is consequential.

It’s time for Chris Ballard and company to invest the appropriate resources into upgrading one of the team’s glaring weaknesses.