Until the Indianapolis Colts go through free agency, there isn’t a clear position that Chris Ballard needs to target in the upcoming NFL draft.
Free agency should help clear up some question marks surrounding the roster and one area on the defense that can end up becoming a big need is the one-technique defensive tackle position—if the team doesn’t re-sign Grover Stewart.
I am in the camp that Stewart has to be brought back in 2024 but even with him on the roster, Ballard should keep one-tech defensive tackles on his radar in the draft.
Stewart will be turning 31 during the upcoming NFL season so he doesn’t have much tread on his tires left. If Ballard re-signs him, then it will likely come on a 2-3 year deal so the future of his spot has to be kept in mind this offseason.
While Stewart has been very durable in his career, his six-game suspension in 2023 showed that the defense looks drastically different when he isn’t in the lineup. There needs to be quality depth beyond him if he were to miss time for any reason in 2024.
Here are five defensive tackle prospects that Ballard can target for the one-tech role in the draft: