The Indianapolis Colts didn’t tiptoe through the offseason — they retooled with intent. After a year defined by flashes of promise and lingering holes, the front office made it clear they weren’t content standing pat. Between impactful free-agent signings and a bold trade that reshaped the offense, the Colts have sent a message to the rest of the Premier Madden League: this team is building to win now, not later.
From defensive leadership to game-breaking speed, Indianapolis attacked its needs aggressively. And most importantly, the additions aren’t depth pieces — they’re starters.
Bobby Okereke Returns: The Heartbeat Is Back
The headline defensive move of the offseason was the reunion with Bobby Okereke, who returns to Indianapolis after spending four seasons with the New York Giants. Drafted by the Colts in the third round back in 2019, Okereke developed into a do-it-all linebacker before leaving after the 2023 season. Now, he’s back — older, wiser, and ready to lead.
Okereke steps right back in as the starting middle linebacker, bringing elite familiarity with the system and the locker room. His game has always been built on range, instincts, and reliability. He diagnoses plays quickly, covers ground sideline to sideline, and rarely puts teammates in bad positions.
After years away, Okereke returns as a true veteran presence — the kind of linebacker who aligns the defense before the snap and cleans things up after it. His experience will be invaluable for a unit that has added youth and needs steady communication in the middle.
This isn’t a nostalgia signing. It’s a football move — and a smart one.
Byron Young Adds Juice to the Edge
To complement the linebacker addition, the Colts went out and landed Byron Young, the edge rusher who spent his entire career with the Rams before learningsigning in Indianapolis.
Young brings something the Colts have been craving: pure edge explosiveness. His first step is sudden, his motor runs hot, and he consistently pressures quarterbacks even when he doesn’t show up in the sack column. He’s the type of edge defender offensive coordinators have to account for — not because he’s flashy, but because he’s relentless.
Slotted in as a day-one starter, Young gives the Colts a true speed presence off the edge. His ability to stress tackles vertically opens lanes for interior pressure and allows the defense to be more aggressive with blitz packages.
After losing high-end trench talent, Indianapolis didn’t try to replace production with one player — they diversified it. Young is a major part of that plan.
Keeanu Benton Solidifies the Interior
Replacing interior dominance is never easy, but the Colts addressed it head-on by signing Keeanu Benton, formerly of the Steelers.
Benton arrives as the projected starting defensive tackle, bringing power, leverage, and discipline to the interior. He’s not a one-dimensional space-eater — Benton plays with strong hands, holds his ground against double teams, and flashes the ability to push the pocket.
His presence allows the Colts defense to stabilize against the run while still generating interior disruption. In a league that increasingly attacks the middle of the field, Benton gives Indianapolis a defender who can anchor downs and free up linebackers to flow to the ball.
With Benton in the middle, Young off the edge, and Okereke behind them, the Colts have quietly rebuilt the spine of their defense.
The Blockbuster Trade: Speed Changes Everything
While the defensive additions were methodical, the Colts’ offensive move was explosive.
Indianapolis pulled off one of the boldest trades of the offseason, sending:
- Pick 24
- Edge rusher JT Tuimoloau
- Young running back Jaden Nixon
- 4th round pick 24
In return, the Colts received:
- Xavier Worthy
- A future first-round pick
This wasn’t a depth trade. This was a philosophy shift.
Xavier Worthy: Speed That Warps Defenses
Xavier Worthy brings something you simply cannot coach: unmatched speed. He is one of the fastest players in the league, and his presence alone changes how defenses line up before the snap.
Safeties can’t sit flat-footed. Corners can’t press without help. Defensive coordinators are forced to shade coverage deep, opening space underneath and across the middle. Even when Worthy doesn’t touch the ball, he’s influencing every snap.
For the Colts, this is transformational.
What This Means for Anthony Richardson
No player benefits more from this trade than Anthony Richardson.
Richardson already has one of the strongest arms in the league. Pairing that arm with Worthy’s speed stretches the field in ways few defenses can survive. Deep shots become more viable. Play-action becomes more dangerous. Scrambles turn into explosives instead of checkdowns.
Worthy also creates cleaner throwing windows for Richardson on intermediate routes, as linebackers and safeties are forced to respect the deep threat. That balance makes the offense more efficient — not just more exciting.
Simply put: speed makes quarterbacks better, and the Colts just added the fastest chess piece on the board.
The Cost — and Why It Was Worth It
Losing JT Tuimoloau and Jaden Nixon stings, especially with Tuimoloau’s edge upside and Nixon’s youth in the backfield. But the Colts didn’t just acquire a receiver — they acquired a future first-round pick and a player who fundamentally alters defensive game plans.
That’s value.
This move signals confidence in the current roster and belief in Richardson as the long-term answer. It’s not a rebuild trade — it’s a win-now and win-later trade.
Final Outlook: A Team with Direction
The Colts’ offseason wasn’t about noise — it was about clarity.
- Bobby Okereke brings leadership and stability.
- Byron Young adds edge pressure and urgency.
- Keeanu Benton shores up the interior.
- Xavier Worthy injects game-breaking speed.
- A future first-round pick keeps flexibility intact.
All three free-agent signings are expected to start. The trade reshapes the offense. And most importantly, the Colts now look like a team with a clear identity on both sides of the ball.
Indianapolis didn’t just add talent this offseason — they added purpose.
And in the Premier Madden League, that’s often the difference between being competitive… and being dangerous.
