A recent ranking of the top defensive ends in the NFL heading into the 2025 season highlights the need that the Indianapolis Colts have for more production from this unit.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler compiled his list of the top 10 defensive ends in the game. To do so, he spoke to NFL executives, coaches, and scouts to gain insight from the “league’s true insiders.”

Among the top 10, there were no members of the Indianapolis Colts. Of the four additional players who fell into the ‘Honorable mention’ category, there were no Colts. Then, of the seven players who received top 10 votes, there were no Colts’ defensive ends mentioned.

As a collective unit last season, the Colts ranked 22nd in pressure rate, they were 23rd in total pressures, 26th in sacks, and 21st in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric.

Individually, Dayo Odeyingbo and his 42 pressures led the Colts’ defense last season, but compared to his position group league-wide, he ranked 42nd. Laiatu Latu was tied for 47th, and Kwity Paye was 49th, per PFF.

This is a position group that has been heavily invested in. Paye is a former first-round pick, and the Colts picked up his fifth-year option for the 2025 season. Latu is a former first-round pick as well, while the Colts just drafted JT Tuimoloau in Round 2, and Samson Ebukam–who is coming off an Achilles injury–was a free agent addition in 2023.

This season, the Colts don’t just need more production from their defensive ends, but step No. 1 is making up for the lost production that comes with Odeyingbo now in Chicago. Accomplishing this will be a group effort, but a Year 2 leap from Latu will have to play a key role as well.

Helping the defensive end unit should be Lou Anarumo and his defensive scheme. Last season, the Colts’ secondary was often picked apart by the quick passing game, which made getting consistent pressure difficult with the ball out of the quarterback’s hands so fast. But under Anarumo and his more aggressive and disguise-heavy scheme, those quick throws shouldn’t be as readily available, and the confusion from the varied coverages can buy the defensive ends an extra split second or two to get home, which is often all that it takes.

At the end of the day, the name of the game in football is pressuring the quarterback, and if the Colts can do that at a more consistent level, the rest of the defense will benefit.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: No Colts’ DEs mentioned by NFL execs, coaches in latest rankings