7 defensive end options for Colts in 2026 NFL draft

Despite a pair of free agent additions at defensive end in free agency, this position remains a need for the Indianapolis Colts in the 2026 NFL draft.

The Colts made two additions, signing Key and Clemons, giving their defensive end rotation a boost. Key's role will likely be similar to that of Ebukam's, and Clemons' role will mirror what Lewis was asked to do.

That said, ideally, both Clemons and Key would be rotational defenders, just as Ebukam and Lewis were, which would leave the starting spot opposite of Laiatu Latu open.

Now, perhaps JT Tuimoloau , Key, or Clemons can step into that role, but that remains to be seen. In a perfect world, Chris Ballard would have been able to add a high-impact presence to pair with Latu, but admittedly, that may be difficult to accomplish without a first-round pick.

From the defensive end position in 2026, the Colts need more pass rush juice around Latu, after ranking 30th in  ESPN's  pass rush win rate metric as a defensive unit last season.

With the Colts holding a pair of Day 2 draft picks, here are a few options for them at the defensive end position.

Gabe Jacas , Illinois

Jacas is listed at 6-3 - 270 pounds and is an experienced player with nearly 2,300 career defensive snaps. Over the last two seasons, Jacas has surpassed 40 quarterback pressures and totaled 20 sacks, according to  PFF . Out of 100 eligible edge rushers last season, Jacas ranked 32nd in pass rush win rate.

LT Overton , Alabama

Overton is listed at 6-5 - 278 pounds. He recorded 24 pressures and five sacks this past season. In 2024, he had a very good run defense grade from  PFF.  The NFL.com's  Lance Zierlein  noted Overton's "impressive power" in his scouting report. But he does lack high-end pass rush production.

Derrick Moore, Michigan

Listed at 6-3, 260 pounds, Moore has played 1,355 career snaps on defense, filling a rotational role. The bulk of his snaps have come on passing downs. Moore has had steadily increasing production the last three seasons, going from 26 pressures in 2023 to 37 to then 41 this past year. This also includes logging 11 sacks this past season, along with ranking 32nd among all defensive ends in pass rush win rate.

Malachi Lawrence, UCF

Lawrence has been a steady presence along the UCF defensive front for the last three seasons, totaling 1,306 snaps. He is listed at 6-4, 250 pounds. Each season, Lawrence's production has increased, going from generating 25 pressures in 2023, to 28 in 2024, to 40 this past season. He has 20 total sacks during that span as well, according to PFF.

Romello Height, Texas Tech

Height had a breakout year in 2025, totaling 62 quarterback pressures with nine sacks. Among all defensive ends, that was the seventh-most pressures in college football last season. Not surprisingly, Height also ranked 13th in PFF's pass rush win rate metric as well.

R Mason Thomas

Listed at 6-2 -249 pounds, Thomas has played 1,307 career defensive snaps, 901 of which have come over the last two seasons. During that span, Thomas has logged 63 quarterback pressures and 15 sacks. Among all defensive ends in 2025, Thomas ranked 23rd in pass rush win rate, and he was 41st in PFF's run defense grade.

Dani Dennis-Sutton , Penn State

Measuring in at 6-5 - 265 pounds, Dennis-Sutton has put together back-to-back highly productive seasons, totaling 45 pressures and nine sacks in 2024, followed by 51 pressures and eight sacks this past season. He's also graded out well as a run defender by PFF's metrics. Dennis-Sutton was among the standout performers at the defensive end position at the NFL combine.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: 7 defensive end prospects for Colts to watch