According to a few different rankings, here are the best available NFL free agent defenders for the Indianapolis Colts.

As the Indianapolis Colts attempt to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, free agency will have to be a big part of that equation.

The Colts will have money to spend this offseason. According to Over the Cap, the Colts have $45.77 million in available cap space. Compared to the rest of the NFL, this is the ninth-most in football currently.

As GM Chris Ballard said on Thursday, salary cap-wise, the Colts are in “good shape.”

The Colts also have the ability to create more cap room if needed.

Last offseason, we saw Ballard take a much more aggressive approach in free agency. From the sounds of it, he will “continue down that path” this offseason.

There are always reasons to address just about every position group over the course of an offseason, but two specific areas Ballard mentioned on Thursday were the defensive front and getting faster on defense as a whole.

So, with a focus on the defense, specifically the front seven, here are the top available free agents this offseason at those positions.

Best available 2026 NFL free agents on defense for Indianapolis Colts

• DE Trey Hendrickson
• DE Jaelan Phillips
• IDL John Franklin-Myers
• LB Quay Walker
• LB Devin Lloyd
• DE Odafe Oweh
• DE Boye Mafe
• LB Nakobe Dean
• DE Joey Bosa
• IDL Travis Jones
• DE Khalil Mack
• LB Demario Davis
• DE Kyle Van Noy
• IDL Teair Tart
• IDL DaQuan Jones

*This list was compiled by rankings from Sports Illustrated, The Ringer, and Bleacher Report

INDIANAPOLIS – Confidence remains high.

Carlie Irsay-Gordon made that clear Sunday night when she announced the Indianapolis Colts would move forward under the direction of general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen.

And Ballard reinforced that conviction during Thursday’s postscript following an 8-9 record and fifth consecutive season without a playoff appearance.

“It wasn’t all negative,’’ he insisted. “I mean, 8-2 is real.

“That was not a mirage. It wasn’t. We were humming. We were playing good football.’’

After outlasting the Atlanta Falcons in overtime in Berlin Nov. 9, the Colts returned home 8-2.

“I mean, I would have told you when we got back from Germany . . . we had a top-four team in the league,’’ Ballard said. “I believe that. Still believe that.

“But losing seven in a row is losing seven in a row. That’s not what top-four teams do. And that’s reality. That’s the facts.’’

Here’s another undeniable fact: The Colts’ confidence moving forward is rooted in Daniel Jones.

Simple as that.

Yes, the edge pass rush wasn’t nearly good enough and a legitimate bookend for Laiatu Latu is critical. A free-agent acquisition should be a priority.

Yes, the defense must, as Ballard stressed, get younger and faster. The 2026 front-seven won’t resemble the 2025 front-seven.

And yes, the Colts must be able to run the ball better even when situations aren’t favorable. During the seven-game losing streak, which was fueled by injuries to Jones, Jonathan Taylor averaged 63.7 yards per game and 3.3 per attempt.

But if Jones isn’t the answer, nothing much else matters.

There are two significant issues with Jones that would be major impediments to a continued relationship in any other scenario.

Jones:

• Will be an unrestricted free agent in March.
• Tore his right Achilles Dec. 7, underwent surgery Dec. 9 and faces an arduous rehab. He expects to be ready for the start of training camp in late July. That would represent an 8½-month rehab.

“We’ll attack the process and make sure I’m ready to go,’’ Jones said Monday.

“I’m not a doctor and I’m not God in terms of knowing what the future is going to hold in his healing,’’ Ballard said. “ . . . the history of guys coming back has been pretty good and they’ve been older than Daniel.

“He’s a pretty freaky talent in terms of athletic ability. So no, I do feel confident that he will make it back. Will he be the version you saw (last season) right away? Maybe not, but he’s still going to be really good. I think as he goes along and plays, he’ll be fine.

“I know . . . he’s going to give every ounce of his being into being the best he can be to be ready.’’

But first things first, and that means signing him to an extension.

At the risk of assuming too much, that almost assuredly will be done.

“I’d love to be back here,’’ Jones said.

The feeling is mutual.

Ballard was asked if the Colts were committed to retaining Jones “come hell or high water.’’

He smiled.

“Well, hell or high water is a strong word, but we would like . . . it’s mutual on both sides,’’ he said. “I think Daniel was a really good fit for this organization and I think this organization and city were a really good fit for Daniel.’’

A multi-year deal could mirror that of contracts secured by Sam Darnold in Seattle (three-years, $100.5 million, $55 million guaranteed) or Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay (three years, $100 million, $50 million guaranteed).

Ballard admitted Jones’ Achilles injury and rehab will impact negotiations, “but we’ll work through that with his agent. He’s got a really good agent.

“We’ll find a way to work through that.’’

If common ground can’t be reached – that probably means guaranteed money – the Colts always could use the franchise tag to retain Jones. The projected 2026 tag for quarterbacks is roughly $46 million guaranteed.

Jones turns 29 in May, which can be the midpoint of a quarterback’s career.

A reinvestment in Jones will represent short- and long-term stability at a position that’s been in flux since Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement two weeks before the 2019 season.

“I’m looking at him both: Near and long,’’ Ballard said. “And I think that helps us. I mean, I’ve been very stated about like when you’re chasing the quarterback all the time, it makes it very . . . it’s hard. Like, your margin for error really shrinks down.

“And I feel very good about Daniel Jones and where he’s at, where he’s going. Yes, he’s got the Achilles, but I think Daniel Jones has got a really bright future here in Indianapolis. And look, there is some comfort knowing that, okay, we know we’ve got a guy that’s proven, that’s done it, and done some really good things.

“So, that does give you some confidence.’’

Until Jones fractured his left fibula then tore his right Achilles, he had distanced himself from his inconsistent and error-prone six seasons with the New York Giants. You remember, right? One playoff appearance was overshadowed by a 24-44-1 record as a starter and 70 turnovers.

Through the Colts’ 8-2 start, Jones was among the NFL’s most productive and efficient quarterbacks: 3^rd in yards (2,659) and completion percentage (69.9) and 5^thin yards per attempt (8.3). He joined Peyton Manning as the only player in franchise history to pass for at least 200 yards in each of his first 10 starts.

Jones completed 68% of his passes, averaged 8.1 per attempt and finished with a 100.2 rating. All were career highs.

“I’ll give Shane and the offensive staff a lot of credit,’’ Ballard said, “playing to his strength. He is really accurate with the football, okay, and he’s very smart and decisive of where he plays with the football.’’

What about Richardson?

The team’s undeniable commitment to Jones brings into question Anthony Richardson Sr.’s future with the Colts. He’s under contract through next season – there’s no reason to believe the team will exercise his fifth-year option – and finished the season on the injured reserve.

Richardson underwent surgery to repair a fractured right orbital bone after a freak accident with a resistance band before the Oct. 12 game with Arizona.

“Unfortunately for Anthony, he’s had some really bad luck,’’ Ballard said.

The No. 4 overall pick in 2023 has missed 29 of a possible 51 games because of a variety of injuries.

Richardson lost a training camp competition with Jones and was on the field for just 14 snaps in two games. He practiced the last three weeks but still was experiencing some degree of vision issues.

“He’s got to still work through the vision he has and we’ll see what the future holds there,’’ Ballard said. “We’ll kind of see going forward how that ends up playing out.

“A lot of it’s going to deal with his health, too.’’

Acquiring a late-round pick in a trade for Richardson shouldn’t be ruled out.

He is confident he’ll experience success.

“Oh yeah, no doubt,’’ he said. “If I’ve still got a chance to play football, it is always out there for me.’’

The Colts could consider Richardson expendable after seeing Riley Leonard play reasonably well as a rookie. If there is a concern that Jones won’t be ready for the season opener in September, they could bring in a veteran with starter experience in the offseason.

“Yeah, we’ll work through that,’’ Ballard said. “That is something we will evaluate. We got to make the decision. ‘Okay, if Anthony doesn’t get to where we think he can be, can Riley be the 2?’

“I do think it’s a position that every year we’ve got to address in some way, fashion or form.’’

You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.