From 2023 to 2024, the Indianapolis Colts made a big jump up ESPN’s under-25 team talent rankings.
Aaron Schatz puts this annual list together because, while having a strong group of young contributors isn’t necessarily a prerequisite to winning a Super Bowl, it is a good indicator of future and long-term success for an organization.
Below are the factors that Schatz utilized to create these rankings:
– Number of starts made by players under 25 years old
– Number of snaps played by players under 25 years old
– Quality of play of players under 25 years old, age-adjusted to capture the fact that a 21-year-old player of X ability will likely improve more than a 23-year-old player of X ability — and with extra consideration given to Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections
– Value and length of player contracts
– Relative importance of positions, in particular with quarterbacks being more important and running backs, off-ball linebackers and specialists being less important than other positions
– Draft value added in the 2024 draft
– Expected key starters and reserves under 25 years old for teams in 2024
– Significant injuries or suspensions that will affect the 2024 availability of players under 25 years old
After coming in at No. 22 on this list last offseason, the Colts would jump up to No. 12 heading into 2024. The two “blue-chip” players that provided the Colts with the biggest boost are Anthony Richardson and Laiatu Latu, but Schatz also mentions AD Mitchell, Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, JuJu Brents, Jaylon Jones, and Nick Cross.
The young players on this Colts roster that Schatz mentions will play key roles in determining just how good this Colts team will be in 2024.
Of course, the obvious is Richardson, with his level of play determining how high the ceiling is for the Colts offense as well as the team as a whole. But Latu’s “polished” pass rush repertoire, as GM Chris Ballard described it, should result in him making a quick impact.
“I would say he’s real slippery,” Kwity Paye said of Latu. “He gets on and off blocks real easy, can bend the corner, turn the edge, and just really manipulating the O-line. You know, just his counters and his spins, everything like that, just watching his film, it’s crazy.”
Mitchell, with his 4.34 speed and overall explosiveness, will bring a new element to the Colts’ offense, while Josh Downs appears poised to make that Year 2 jump that so many successful NFL players make.
“That comes with understanding the offense more,” said Downs about heading into his second season. “Just knowing what the other receivers, even the tight end running, and then knowing the run game better as well.
“And then just having a year under your belt. You know the level of competition that you’re going to go against now and you see what type of players you’re playing against each and every week.”
As I wrote about recently, Brents’ ability to take a step forward this season will go a long way in providing stability at the unknown cornerback position, and the same could be said for Jones, as well as Cross at safety.
With the potential and overall talent that this Colts’ roster has, the recipe for a successful season certainly exists, and how these under-25 players perform will go a long way in determining whether or not that potential is reached.
At the top of Schatz’s list are the Houston Texans, followed by the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, and Chicago Bears rounding out the top five.
