Pro Football Network has spent the last few weeks ranking the top players within each position group ahead of the 2024 season. At defensive tackle, Indianapolis Colts’ DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart made appearances on the list. So, where does they rank among their peers?

Buckner is coming off another impressive season. His 52 pressures were the 14th-most among his position group, while he also tied for seventh in pass-rush win rate and 11th in PFF’s run-stop rate metric as well. Earlier this offseason, Buckner was signed to a two-year, $46 million extension that will keep him in Indianapolis through the 2026 season.

In addition to extending Buckner, the Colts invested fairly heavily into the defensive tackle position this offseason. GM Chris Ballard would re-sign Grover Stewart and add Raekwon Davis in free agency.

There was a night and day difference in the Colts’ run defense last season when Stewart was on the field versus when he was off. With Stewart on the field during the Colts’ first six games in 2023, the defense allowed just 3.7 yards per rush. Without him over the next six games, they allowed 4.9 yards per carry. Among all defensive tackles, Stewart ranked 11th in run-stop rate and fifth in PFF’s run defense grade.

The addition of Davis was meant to bolster the Colts’ run defense unit during obvious running downs or when Stewart isn’t on the field. While Stewart is known as a top run defender, he has aspirations this season of generating more consistent pressures.

The fourth and potentially fifth spots on the eventual 53-man roster behind Buckner, Stewart, and Davis will be up for grabs this summer. The Colts re-signed Taven Bryan to a one-year deal and also have Eric Johnson returning–although both players last season struggled against the run. I imagine that from the Colts’ perspective, the hope is that 2023 fourth-round pick Adetomiwa Adebawore can make a jump in Year 2.

Consistent success on defense often starts with the interior defensive line. Whether it be a run or a pass play, the quickest way to blow up any offensive play is with quick pressure from up the middle. When that happens, every player on the defensive side of the ball benefits. Between the defensive tackles and the defensive ends, the Colts should have one of the more disruptive fronts in football this season.

Here is Pro Football Network’s full defensive tackle rankings from Dakota Randall. For a more detailed look at these selections, click here.