Who will make the biggest impact on offense and defense for the Colts in 2026

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The Indianapolis Colts face a make-or-break season in 2026. Meaning if they finish negative, miss the playoffs with a mediocre record, or fail to meet expectations in any regard, management will more than likely clean house. 

But a negative outlook with this team brings any analyst or fan to a standstill. There will, without a doubt, be a standout offensive and defensive player who rises above expectations or meets them and becomes the team's front man for the year. Last year some would say it was Alec Pierce, Daniel Jones while not finishing the season, Laiatu Latu who had an electric start, or maybe even Cam Bynum who revitalized the team's energy as a whole. But that was last year. Who are the candidates to make the biggest impact on both sides of the ball for the Colts this year? Here are my picks. 

Offensive player: Wide receiver Josh Downs 

In 2025 we saw Josh Downs take a step back in the Colts offensive routine due to the amount of depth at wide receiver to start out. But now that Michael Pittman Jr. is a Pittsburgh Steeler, and Adonai Mitchell is a New York Jet, Josh Downs will undoubtedly be leveraged into the wide receiver two role behind star receiver Alec Pierce. Downs’ work in the slot is impressive, offering a dominating presence for a receiver that is undersized at 5-foot-11. He consistently exposes some of the top cornerbacks in the league with his technique and skills as a receiver. So far into his career, Downs has totaled 2,140 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns, and 198 catches. 

While Pierce is sure to get the majority of the targets, I anticipate Downs seeing significant growth in this area as he approaches his contract year, propelling his stock and creating a palpable urgency in the Colts building to retain him for years to come. The Alec Pierce–Josh Downs duo should be dangerous if given consistency at the quarterback position from Daniel Jones. After all, the best ability is availability, and everyone must keep that in mind over the course of this next season. 

The biggest thing working in Downs’ favor is the fact that his role now feels defined. In years prior, the Colts offense often felt crowded and inconsistent, with multiple receivers fighting for touches while the quarterback situation shifted week-to-week. Downs sometimes became the forgotten piece in games where the offense stalled out or leaned too heavily on the run. But now, the expectations are crystal clear. Pierce stretches the field vertically, while Downs controls the middle of it. 

That combination could become one of the more underrated duos in the AFC if things click early. Pierce has emerged into the explosive playmaker Indianapolis hoped he would become, and Downs perfectly complements him with reliable hands, sharp route running, and the ability to create separation underneath. Defenses cannot simply bracket Pierce over the top anymore without opening lanes for Downs to feast in short and intermediate coverage. 

There is also another layer to this. Daniel Jones historically performs best when he has a dependable slot receiver who can serve as a safety valve under pressure. Downs fits that mold perfectly. He is the type of receiver who can turn a second-and-eight slant into a 20-yard gain because of his agility after the catch. Indianapolis desperately lacked offensive rhythm at times last season, especially after Jones went down with his achilles injury, after that it was non-existent. So, Downs could very well become the centerpiece that stabilizes drives and keeps the offense on schedule. Even against his brother, Cowboys rookie safety Caleb Downs, whom the Colts play week 9 of the regular season.

Another factor that could push Downs into a breakout season is durability. While the Colts roster has struggled with injuries across multiple position groups over the last few years, Downs has consistently shown toughness and reliability. He takes hits over the middle and continues to get up. That matters over a grueling 17-game season where availability can determine whether a team competes for the playoffs or falls apart by December. 

If Downs can eclipse what seems like his routine 800 receiving yards while becoming Jones’ trusted target in critical moments, it would not be surprising at all to see him viewed as one of the better slot receivers in football by season’s end. The opportunity is there. The role is there. Now it becomes about execution. 

Defensive player: Cornerback Sauce Gardner

In many ways, the 2026 and 2027 Colts first-round pick needs to have a “prove it” year for the team. Many continue to remain confused about whether the Sauce Gardner trade was truly worth it in full. Gardner, while having a limited sample size, is consistently a top cornerback when on the field. 

It may be tiring to hear at this point, but if you are a Colts fan, it never gets old. Despite not even playing the entire NFL season last year, Gardner maintained a 76.9 Pro Football Focus grade, placing ninth out of 114 cornerbacks in the NFL. It is not luck, chance, or whatever intangible people would like to throw at the wall. Sauce Gardner is one of the top corners in the league by far, and people need to start catching on. 

The biggest question surrounding Gardner has never been talent. It has been health and consistency in availability. When healthy, quarterbacks actively avoid throwing toward his side of the field because of how disruptive he can be in coverage, which is the reason his interceptions numbers are not high. His length, instincts, and ability to mirror receivers at the line of scrimmage make him a nightmare matchup for opposing offenses. Indianapolis has not had a true shutdown corner of this caliber in years, and the impact of that cannot be overstated. 

A dominant cornerback changes the entire identity of a defense. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo thrives when he can trust his corners in man coverage and send pressure packages aggressively. Gardner gives him that freedom. Suddenly, blitzes become more effective because quarterbacks are forced to hold onto the ball longer. Pass rushers like Laiatu Latu and newly drafted edges Caden Curry and George Gumbs Jr. benefit directly from Gardner’s presence on the outside. That ripple effect could elevate the Colts defense into one of the better units in the conference if everything aligns correctly. 

There is also immense pressure attached to Gardner this season because of what Indianapolis sacrificed to acquire him. Fans understand that first-round picks are not guarantees, but giving up premium draft capital for a player creates expectations immediately. Fair or not, Gardner will be judged differently because of that price tag. Every missed game, every big reception allowed, and every defensive collapse will bring the trade back into discussion. 

Still, Gardner is built for that pressure. Throughout his career, he has embraced the spotlight and played with an undeniable confidence that Indianapolis has lacked defensively for some time. There is a swagger to his game, and that swagger spreads quickly throughout a locker room. Young defensive backs feed off it. The crowd feeds off it. Energy matters in football, especially for a Colts team trying to rebuild its identity after years of inconsistency. 

If Gardner stays healthy for a full season, double-digit pass breakups and multiple interceptions feel realistic. More importantly, though, his value may not even fully show up on the stat sheet. Eliminating an opposing team’s top receiving option changes game plans entirely. That type of influence is rare in today’s NFL. 

Ultimately, the Colts’ success in 2026 will come down to whether their star players can finally provide stability. Josh Downs has the chance to become the reliable offensive engine Indianapolis desperately needs, while Sauce Gardner could anchor a defense searching for elite identity and toughness. 

For a franchise sitting at a crossroads, those two players may end up defining whether the Colts return to relevance or head toward another painful rebuild. 

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