Colts' DT Depth Named One of NFL's Thinnest Positions
When the Indianapolis Colts and General Manager Chris Ballard traded a first round pick for DeForest Buckner ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, the expectation was the Colts were getting a game-wrecker along the interior of the defensive line.
Buckner has certainly lived up to that billing inside for the Colts, landing a lengthy extension in the process while pairing with terrific 1-tech defensive tackle Grover Stewart to form one of the better interior duos in the NFL.
The problem with the defensive tackle depth tough is that it's a bit non-existent behind the duo, according to ESPN's Bill Barnwell, and relies heavily on Buckner being a star once again.
Barnwell writes that the Colts need Buckner to play at a higher level in 2021 than he did last season if the Colts want to remain in contention, especially considering the ability to rush the passer from the interior drops off significantly with Buckner off the field and Denico Autry now playing in Tennessee.
The Colts sent a first-round pick to the 49ers to acquire Buckner before the 2020 draft, and the former No. 7 overall pick delivered on expectations. He racked up 9.5 sacks and 26 knockdowns in his first season in Indy despite missing a game while he was on the COVID-19 list. Buckner is one of the most expensive defenders in the league, but that's the sort of production teams are hoping to get from their top interior pass-rusher. With question marks on the edge after Justin Houston left in free agency, though, the Colts desperately need Buckner to be that sort of force once again in 2021. Their sack rate and pressure rate were both unsurprisingly higher with Buckner on the field, while the passer rating they allowed rose from 85.3 with him on the field to 107.2 without their star tackle. Fellow starter Grover Stewart isn't a pass-rusher, and the Colts lost useful interior rusher Denico Autry to the Titans in free agency.
It's fair to say the Colts need Buckner to be a force along the interior once again, especially after losing Autry to the Titans and Justin Houston still remaining on the free agent market.
Lamenting the lack of depth though is where Barnwell misses the mark. Nobody on the Colts is asking Stewart to be some sort of high-level pass rusher; it's just not what he is.
He's a terrific run defender and can provide a bit of a rush from the inside based on his 15 career quarterback hits and 35 career pressures.
Behind Stewart and Buckner, the Colts added veteran Antwaun Woods on a cheap one-year deal late in free agency, giving the defensive tackle group a veteran with nearly 1,400 career snaps played, significantly improving the depth behind Buckner and Stewart.
Woods isn't on the level of Buckner or Stewart, but he's a reliable run defender who can get after the passer on occasion. If Barnwell wanted to highlight the lack of middle linebacker depth or depth at quarterback, that would be much more understandable from the Colts' perspective.
He simply misses the mark here.
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