With the NFL draft and free agency behind us, 90-man rosters around the league are pretty well set. So, following the portion of the offseason where general managers do most of their roster molding and tweaking, where do the Colts stand in the latest power rankings?
Looking at this Colts’ roster on paper, the recipe is certainly there for a successful season, especailly when we take into account how they were on the cusp of being in the playoffs in 2023 during Shane Steichen’s first year as head coach, along with not having quarterback Anthony Richardson for much of the season.
In addition to getting Richardson back, along with a hopeful Year 2 leap for the offense under Steichen, the Colts’ offensive line unit, which ranked in the top 10 in pressure rate and yards per carry, returns its starting five. GM Chris Ballard also added a needed playmaking presence at receiver in Adonai Mitchell, who joins Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and running back Jonathan Taylor.
On Defense, the Colts invested heavily into the defensive front, building what should be the most disruptive unit during Ballard’s tenure as GM. At linebacker, the Colts are returning EJ Speed and Zaire Franklin. They re-signed Julian Blackmon and Kenny Moore in the secondary, and Dallis Flowers will be back from injury. The young cornerbacks and safeties that the Colts relied heavily on in 2023 now have an additional year of experience under their belts, hopefully resulting in improved play.
Like I said, the pieces to the playoff puzzle are there. However, like every other team, the Colts have their unknowns as well. Most notably, around the secondary, where several starting spots are up for grabs, and relatively speaking, Richardson is still an inexperienced quarterback, playing in only four career games–so more growing pains could still be on the horizon.
As we’ve seen numerous examples of when it comes to offseason power rankings, how a team appears on paper isn’t always the best indicator of what we are going to see on the field. But taking into account how the 2023 season ended for each team, along with the additions and subtractions made throughout this offseason, a number of NFL analysts put together their rankings following the draft. Here is how they view the Colts:
Josh Kendall – The Athletic
Colts ranking: 14th
Reasoning from Kendall: “The Colts landed two of the draft’s most talented players with their first two picks, which is impressive considering those picks came at 15 and 52. They did have to take on some risk to do it, though. UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu medically retired from football at one point in his college career, and Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell raised some concerns about non-football issues in the scouting community. (Don’t tell GM Chris Ballard about that second part, though. He doesn’t want to hear it.)”
Gary Davenport – Bleacher Report
Colts ranking: 16th
Reasoning from Davenport: “The Indianapolis Colts narrowly missed the postseason last year despite not having starting quarterback Anthony Richardson for much of the season. Richardson’s rehab is reportedly progressing well, and Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard told reporters he has massive expectations for Richardson in his second NFL season.”
Eric Edholm – NFL.com
Colts ranking: 22nd
Reasoning from Edholm: “I thought the Colts would go with a playmaker or corner in Round 1. Instead, it was pass rusher Laiatu Latu, who was Chris Ballard’s second-biggest first-round gamble. (No. 1 is Anthony Richardson in 2023.) And I gotta say, I like this side of Ballard. Even second-rounder Adonai Mitchell carries risk — or does he? Ballard went on a heater when the subject of Mitchell, a top-40 talent who slid a bit, and so-called “character concerns” came up. In short, Ballard vociferously defended Mitchell’s character, which had to sound good if you’re a Colts backer — or if you’re Mitchell. I wasn’t the biggest Matt Goncalves fan, but Lance Zierlein gave him a solid grade, and Lance has forgotten more about OL play than I’ll ever know. Everything else the Colts did in the draft made sense, even if waiting to take a corner was tough. Indy added a little juice this weekend.”
Nate Davis – USA Today
Colts ranking: 14th
Reasoning from Davis: “etting DE Laiatu Latu 15th overall in the draft and WR Adonai Mitchell at No. 52 were very likely two of this draft’s biggest value picks. Add them to the mix of a nine-win team that had limited snaps from QB Anthony Richardson and RB Jonathan Taylor in 2023, and Indy is shaping up as one of next season’s breakout candidates.”
David Helman - Fox Sports
Colts ranking: 21st
Reasoning from Helman: “Sorry for stating the obvious, but everything in Indy hinges on Anthony Richardson. The Colts brought back their key free agents and had a nice enough draft, but I don’t think they’re a better team than last year’s unless Richardson can continue his upward trajectory — while staying healthy this time.”
Tim Weaver - Seahawks Wire
Colts ranking: 21st
Raymond Sumerlin - Sharp Football
Colts ranking: 18th
Reasoning from Sumerlin: “Indy mostly focused on re-signing their own players in free agency, which makes some sense for a young team on the rise. They also landed one of the best defensive players in the draft at No. 15 overall and followed that up with a wide receiver many expected to go in the first round. The development of Anthony Richardson will go a long way to determine whether this team can be a real threat in 2024.”
John Pluym - SI
Colts ranking: 14th
Reasoning from Pluym: “From a pure value perspective, it’s fair to wonder if GM Chris Ballard and the Colts didn’t have the best pure draft of any team. WR Adonai Mitchell and edge Laiatu Latu have incredible upside, and while there is something about each of them—be it personal or medical—that scared other teams off, a good organization can embrace anyone and everyone. If the ceiling on both of these players hits, watch out.”
Pete Prisco - CBS Sports
Colts ranking: 22nd
Reasoning from Prisco: “They will have a healthy Anthony Richardson back, which is the best thing going into the season. He flashed as a rookie and will be another year into the offense.”
Steve Serby - New York Post
Colts ranking: 15th
Reasoning from Serby: “A healthy Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor will have them in the hunt. WR Adonai Mitchell takes heat off Michael Pittman Jr. Laiatu Latu, arguably the best pass rusher in the draft, helps a suspect secondary. GM Chris Ballard kept in-house free agents DT Grover Stewart and CB Kenny Moore.”
Dallas Robinson - Pro Football Network
Colts ranking: 18th
Reasoning from Robinson: “The Colts finished fifth in sacks (51) and pass-rush win rate (48%) in 2023 but couldn’t help but add another talented player to their EDGE rotation. Latu was the 15th overall pick despite medically returning during college and entering the NFL as a 23-year-old — that should tell you how talented he is. Viewed as the most pro-ready edge rusher in the 2024 draft, Latu is a threat to lead Indy in sacks in his rookie campaign.”
The Score
Colts ranking: 21st
Reasoning from The Score: “The Colts were the first team to select a defensive player in the draft and landed our top-ranked edge rusher Laiatu Latu. Adonai Mitchell was also a solid value pick in Round 2, but Indy’s fortunes ultimately rest on quarterback Anthony Richardson’s health and development.”
Vinnie Iyer - Sporting News
Colts ranking: 24th
Reasoning from Iyer: “The Colts boosted their pass rush first but still ended up with a needed big-play wide receiver, Adonai Mitchell, for Anthony Richardson. Richardson’s health and second-year development will determine plenty.”
