ESPN’s Bill Barnwell put together his ranking of each NFL team’s wide receiver, tight end, and running back talent ahead of the 2024 season, and he’s not very high on the Colts group of skill position players.
Before we look at where Barnwell had the Colts’ playmakers ranked, here is what went into determining this list:
– This is just about running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.
For the full breakdown, you can click here.
Barnwell put the Colts’ receiver, running back, and tight end units at 22nd overall, which is actually up three spots from where he had them in his 2023 rankings. Just ahead of the Colts are the Cardinals at No. 21 and the Browns at No. 20.
Barnwell notes that while Pittman has been a reliable target, which includes ranking among Chris Olave and DK Metcalf in yards per route run and being effective after the catch, that hasn’t turned into consistent playmaking with Pittman averaing fewer than 11.0 yards per catch, the last three seasons.
Barnwell adds that beyond Pittman, there is “more promise than performance,” with Adonai Mitchell being a rookie, Jonathan Taylor dealing with injuries the last two seasons, and someone needing to step up at tight end.
There’s a lot to like about the skill position players the Colts have, but I can also understand Barnwell taking a wait-and-see approach. This time next year, the Colts could make a big jump in these rankings.
With Taylor’s contract situation in order and him being fully healthy this offseason, GM Chris Ballard believes a “really big year” is in store for him.
“Still explosive — last year he was beat up,” an AFC scout told ESPN. “The Colts eased him into things. But he’s probably the best combination of size and straight-line speed right now.”
Josh Downs is coming off a “solid” rookie year, as Barnwell put it, totaling 771 yards with two scores. Downs would lead the team in missed tackles and average YAC. He also had 10 receptions of 20-plus yards and ranked seventh among all receivers in yards from the slot.
Early signs from offseason programs show that Downs is poised to make that Year 2 jump that many successful players make.
Mitchell, meanwhile, will bring a new element to the Colts’ offense with his 4.34 speed and explosiveness, coupled with his route running, allowing him to impact the game at all levels of the field.
“You bring in AD and he’s very talented,” said Pittman. “Everything he does is so natural. I think he brings something extra that we didn’t have before. I’m learning stuff from him that I didn’t know before. Just the way he moves and the way he sets up moves. I think he’s elevating everybody. He’s all about football. We are always talking about concepts, routes, releases, set up moves. He’s all ball 24/7.”
The Colts may not have that go-to option at the tight end position, but a healthy Jelani Woods can add a big play element to the passing game, not to mention that collectively, this is a unit that has a variety of skill sets for Shane Steichen to build his gameplans around.
Put all of that together, and as I detailed recently, that could result in a more productive and dynamic year for Pittman, with defenses not able to focus solely on him.
