Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard has always stuck to one clear strategy when it comes to building his roster: start from the trenches. He’s made it his mission to build the team from the inside out, beginning with strong, talented lines on both offence and defence. And now, that long-term vision is getting recognition.

ESPN’s Mike Clay recently named the Colts’ interior defensive line as the team’s biggest strength going into the 2025 season. According to Clay, this unit is not just good, it’s one of the most reliable and dangerous groups in the league.

At the centre of it all is veteran star DeForest Buckner, who Clay says is the engine that drives the whole defence. Buckner has been incredibly consistent, putting up at least 6.5 sacks in each of the last seven seasons. That kind of production from the defensive tackle spot is rare, and it’s a huge advantage for the Colts.

Lining up next to him is Grover Stewart, who Clay calls an “underrated run-stuffer.” Stewart might not get the spotlight often, but he’s coming off the best year of his career, with 74 total tackles and 10 tackles for loss. That’s impressive on its own, but even more so considering the Colts’ defence underperformed as a whole in 2024. At 32 years old, Stewart is proving that he’s still playing at a high level.

Beyond their two starters, the Colts are also deep. Adetomiwa Adebawore, now in his third year, and Neville Gallimore, a free agent signing, are next up in the rotation. Ballard has praised both of them for their strong offseason work and even said the signing of Gallimore may be flying under the radar in terms of importance. “We think Neville Gallimore is going to help us,” he said.

Even further down the depth chart, rookie Tim Smith, a sixth-round pick out of Alabama, is turning heads. He plays a similar style to Stewart and could be a great backup option as he develops.

Of course, all of this potential has to show up in actual games. But with preseason just around the corner, this group will have the chance to prove it’s not just strong on paper, it can set the tone for the entire defence when it matters most.