After narrowly missing out on the playoffs, the Indianapolis Colts will regroup for a vital offseason in hopes of remaining competitive during the 2024 season.
Unlike our article detailing the storylines at this time last year, the Colts know who their head coach and starting quarterback are. There’s a lot of promise with the duo of Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson once the latter is able to practice again.
But even if there may not be as much drama this offseason, there are still plenty of storylines to follow.
Before it arrives, here’s a look at the biggest offseason storylines the Colts face in 2024:
1
Anthony Richardson's recovery
One of the storylines that will garner the most attention (and rightfully so) will be the recovery of Richardson’s throwing shoulder. After undergoing surgery in October to repair a Grade 3 AC joint sprain, Richardson is expected to begin throwing sometime soon. There’s a chance he’s ready to go for the spring workouts, which don’t begin until April, but it also wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Colts take it slowly with the prized first-round pick.
2
Michael Pittman Jr.'s contract
While the national media might believe there’s a chance Pittman hits the free-agent market, the odds of that happening are extremely slim. There’s simply no reason for Pittman to ever see the market. Either he and the Colts agree on a contract extension before March or the Colts apply the franchise tag to extend the window of negotiation. Even if they can’t agree on a contract, the team can still use the franchise tag as a one-year, fully-guaranteed deal. If I were a betting man, I’d expect the two sides to come together on a contract extension.
3
Other contracts to monitor
Pittman’s contract may carry the most weight, but there are other pending free agents the Colts will need to focus on as well. Players like Grover Stewart, Kenny Moore II, Julian Blackmon, Zack Moss and Rigoberto Sanchez are all pending free agents with a solid case to be retained.
4
Gardner Minshew's future
Few players are more loved than Minshew, and that could not be more true in the Colts locker room. Minshew got another taste of being a starter after Anthony Richardson’s season-ending injury occurred in Week 5 so there’s a chance the pending free agent will seek a starting opportunity on the market. However, if the Colts can retain him for a fair price as one of the highest-paid backups in the NFL, it would be worth doing.
5
Free agency approach
At this point in the offseason, it’s impossible to know how free agency will go. Most of the big players have just begun renegotiating contracts with their current teams, and the salary cap hasn’t officially been set yet. Still, we know the Colts will have among the most space even if Chris Ballard isn’t known for spending. There will be a few intriguing names on the market and even if they aren’t big spenders, there’s still some quality talent to pursue.
6
The No. 15 pick
There is a long time between the writing of this article and the 2024 NFL draft. The Colts currently hold the No. 15 pick and have several ways they can go about using the selection. They could trade up for premier talent or trade back to accumulate more picks. They also could stay put and add the best player that becomes available at a position of need. It should make for a fun pre-draft process.
7
Andrew Ogletree's future
Currently on the Commissioner Exempt List, Ogletree was arrested in late December on two felony charges of domestic battery. Because the Exempt List is technically a reserve list, Ogletree remains on the roster on paid leave. In terms of his future, the Colts are likely going to let the situation play out before making a decision, but this will be something to monitor over the course of the offseason.
