After spending big on defense in free agency, Colts continue to invest in revamped unit

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INDIANAPOLIS — JT Tuimoloau knew he was in rare air. As a teenager at East Side Catholic High School in Seattle, his dream was to play in the NFL. But unlike most teenagers, his talent at the prep level put him in rooms few others his age could enter. Before the Indianapolis Colts selected Tuimoloau with the No. 45 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday night, the blueprint was laid before him years prior when he crossed paths with Seahawks legends Cliff Avril and Bobby Wagner — and an underdog still trying to prove himself at the highest level.

That underdog?

Zaire Franklin, the Indianapolis Colts’ second-team All-Pro linebacker. But back then, he was a recent seventh-round pick training at Ford Sports Performance in Seattle with Avril and Wagner. Tuimoloau was there, too, having already soaked up a few years of knowledge from the two Super Bowl champs, and he was eager to learn from Franklin, as well.

Neither could’ve predicted that one day they’d call each other NFL teammates, but that day came Friday.

“It’s crazy I was able to train with Zaire Franklin,” Tuimoloau said. “We always made it a point because I wore No. 44 (at Ohio State), and he did (as well in the NFL), and he was just always saying, ‘Make sure you rep the number well!’”

Tuimoloau represented it so well that Colts GM Chris Ballard made him their top defensive draft pick in this year’s class and another significant piece to Indianapolis’ revamped defense.

The 21-year-old earned three straight first-team All-Big nods and capped his college career with 12.5 sacks during the 2024 season, with 6.5 of them coming in the Buckeyes’ four College Football Playoff games that culminated with their first national title in a decade.

“It’s a long ride, but, man, I’m just blessed I was able to go through this,” Tuimoloau said. “I’ve always said I’d be doing my younger self a discredit if I wasn’t grateful for this moment.”

Three months ago, the Colts opted not to re-sign defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and replaced him with Lou Anarumo, who was the Bengals’ defensive coordinator for the past six years. Indianapolis’ defense was porous under Bradley, finishing 28th in the NFL in points allowed per game in 2022 and 2023, and 24th in 2024. Those results led to wholesale changes, including a more aggressive approach in free agency from Ballard. He secured impact free-agent additions in cornerback Charvarius Ward and free safety Cam Bynum, yet their acquisitions have flown a bit under the radar thanks to the Colts’ ongoing QB competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones.

Whoever is named the starter, Ballard gave them a talented target to throw to by selecting Penn State tight end Tyler Warren on the first day of the draft. But on Day 2, he was back to retooling his defense. Tuimoloau helps fill the void that starting defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, who played the most snaps of any Colts defensive linemen in 2024, left when he joined the Chicago Bears in free agency. Similar to Odeyingbo, Tuimoloau can play inside or outside, Ballard said, and his short-area explosiveness paired with his violent hands should help him make an immediate impact.

“You can never have enough,” Ballard said of drafting edge rushers. “You just can’t, especially as the season gets (going). It’s 17 games. … That’s a long season. You gotta have as many defensive linemen that (you) can.”

Apparently, that same logic can be applied to cornerback, since 35 picks after taking Tuimoloau off the board, Ballard drafted Minnesota cornerback Justin Walley at No. 80. The 22-year-old had a sixth-round grade, per The Athletic’s lead draft analyst Dane Brugler, and he’s undersized for what Ballard typically looks for in a cornerback. But Ballard said he couldn’t care less about rankings outside of those he composes alongside his scouts, and he was sold on Walley’s speed, ball skills and versatility.

“I’ve played every single coverage you can play,” a giddy, yet confident Walley said Friday. “I feel like I do got a very consistent level. I feel like I prepare myself to be able to go on the field and play all of the different positions very consistently. That’s playing man, that’s playing the deep path, the flat — no matter what it is, I feel like I can pretty much do it all.”

Walley started 42 of the 49 games he appeared in at Minnesota, playing on the boundary and in the slot. He racked up 34 passes defensed and seven interceptions, highlighted by 12 passes defensed and two interceptions en route to a second-team All-Big Ten nod in 2024.

The most impressive part? Walley played through a wrist injury during his final college season, but his film hardly looked like it. That mentality carried over to his pre-draft process, where Ballard appreciated his grit.

“In a time when people don’t want to work out, I mean, we have guys ducking it,” Ballard said. “He does everything with a wrist (injury) and runs 4.37 (40-yard dash), with a cast on his wrist. He does everything, every drill, and it shows up on tape.”

Holes still remain as Ballard and the Colts shift their focus to Day 3 of the draft, most notably at right guard, weakside linebacker and backup running back. But Ballard has been particularly aggressive this offseason attacking the team’s need areas. I’d expect more of the same on Saturday.

(Photo of Tuimoloau: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)

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