The Indianapolis Colts were one of the most intriguing NFL teams entering last season but ultimately underwhelmed despite showing flashes of excellence. The theme of the team being very interesting but underwhelming while still showing some promise is a mirror of what their quarterback position looked like last season as well. Anthony Richardson is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks I have ever seen but underperformed in totality while still showing some flashes of very strong play in his first full season as an NFL starter. The team that surrounds Richardson is very strong and if he can take a big leap in particular by becoming a more refined passer in year 2 as a starter then the sky will be the limit for the Colts next season. The team has a strong offensive line and respectable skill position players with offensive minded head coach Shane Steichen being regarded as the next Kyle Shanahan at a certain point in time. The defensive side of the ball was also a strong point for the team as Pro Football Focus had the Colts graded as a top 10 defense in the NFL a season ago. The team has signed former Giants starter Daniel Jones to an incredibly hefty contract for a player who at this point is the QB2 of the team. If physical freak of nature Anthony Richardson can come into his own as a passer in year 2 with Daniel Jones on his tail for the starting position, then the Colts can absolutely vie for the division title and perhaps more going forward. There is absolutely a precedent for Anthony Richardson in the likes of Bills superstar quarterback Josh Allen. Josh Allen was also a physical freak of nature who was a very unrefined passer entering the NFL. Allen eventually learned to throw the ball well enough to the point where many regard him as the 2nd best quarterback in the league currently. If Richardson can develop in a similar way, then the Colts with the strong roster and coaching they already possess will be a difficult team to deal with for the foreseeable future.
On the offensive side of the ball the Colts as stated previously had highly erratic quarterback play but a very strong offensive line and solid skill position players. The team’s key offensive ranks last season can be found below.
2024 Colts Offensive Ranks
19th in offense grade according to Pro Football Focus
17th in points per game according to Pro Football Focus
13th in yards per game according to Pro Football Focus
As you can see from the above data the Colts were essentially an average to a below average team on the offensive end this past season. The offensive line was the strong suit of the team and I have conducted an analysis of the team on the offensive front. I have included the offense grade that the player was assigned over the course of the 2024 season. I have also included my own subjective grade that encompasses how strong of players I deem them to be in totality outside of just 2024. This subjective grade is based upon yearly statistical output and yearly subjective grades that were given to them by Pro Football Focus. I have also included the key metrics of offensive line play as well below.
Colts 2024 Offensive Line Starters
LT – Bernhard Raimann – (8/87) offense grade in 2024 over 856 snaps, A to A-
LG – Quenton Nelson – (5/83) offense grade in 2024 over 1083 snaps, A to A-
C – Ryan Kelly – (14/43) offense grade in 2024 over 601 snaps, B to B+, now on Vikings
RG – Will Fries – (3/83) offense grade in 2024 over 268 snaps, A-, now on Vikings
RT – Braden Smith – (47/87) offense grade in 2024 over 731 snaps, B+
Colts Remaining Offensive Lineman
C – Tanor Bortolini – (19/43) offense grade in 2024 over 351 snaps, 2024 4th round pick, B
G – Dalton Tucker – (72/83) offense grade in 2024 over 464 snaps, undrafted 2024, C-
G – Mark Glowinksi – (71/83) offense grade in 2024 over 355 snaps, B to B-, currently free agent
T – Blake Freeland – (85/87) offense grade in 2024 over 701 snaps, D+ to C-
G – Josh Sills – DNP in 2024, C+
C – Wesley French – DNP in 2024, C-
C/G – Danny Pinter – (12/43) offense grade in 2024 over 138 snaps, C+ to B-
T – Matt Goncalves – (50/87) offense grade in 2024 over 566 snaps, C, 3rd round 2024
T – Jack Wilson – 0 career snaps
G – Atonio Mafi – DNP in 2024, D-
G – Luke Tenuta – 7 career snaps
Colts 2024 Key Offensive Line Metrics
11th in pass blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus
4th in run blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus
18th in pass blocking efficiency according to Pro Football Focus
6th in sacks allowed
As you can see from the above set of data the Colts offensive line was amongst the better if not the best overall units in the NFL a season ago. Their production up front being as strong as it was despite being banged up on the offensive line was remarkable. As three of the five offensive line starters missed a large portion of the season. Heading into next season the team can expect to stay healthier up front but now have to deal with the departure of two interior offensive line staters to the Vikings. Ryan Kelly and Will Fries at center and right guard are consistently above average to well above average when playing and replacing them will be a tough ask. Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves, who were 4th and 3rd round picks in this past year’s draft, who both had solid if not very good rookie seasons are the primary players in line to replace them. Mark Glowinski and Danny Pinter, the former of whom is a free agent, are also in line to replace them as well. I have conducted a similar analysis of the team’s skill position players which can be found below.
Colts Wide Receivers
WR1 – Michael Pittman – (45/110) offense grade in 2024 in 16 games, B to B+
WR2 – Alec Pierce – (33/110) offense grade in 2024 in 16 games, B
WR3 – Josh Downs – (12/110) offense grade in 2024 in 14 games, B+ to A-
WR4 – Adonai Mitchell – (100/110) offense grade in 2024 in 17 games, D+ to C- so far as 2024 2nd rounder
WR5 – Laquon Treadwell – 0 rec in 1 game in 2024, C to C+, 1st round 2016
WR6 – Ashton Dulin – (106/110) offense grade in 2024 in 14 games, C
WR7 – Anthony Gould – 5th round 2024, 1 career reception
WR8 – Ajou Ajou – undrafted 2024, 0 career snaps
WR9 – DJ Montgomery – undrafted 2019, 6 career reception
Colts Tight Ends
TE1 – Mo Alie-Cox – (27/45) offense grade in 2024 in 17 games, C+ to B-, free agent not currently on team
TE2 – Andrew Ogletree – (18/45) offense grade in 2024 in 17 games, B
TE3 – Will Mallory – (45/45) offense grade in 2024 in 10 games, C to C+
TE4 – Jelani Woods – DNP in 2024, (23/43) offense grade in 15 games in 2022 which was only season with snaps
TE5 – Albert Okwuegbunam Jr – DNP in 2024, B-
TE6 – Kylen Granson – (37/45) offense grade in 2024 in 17 games, C, now on Eagles
Colts Running Backs
HB1 – Jonathan Taylor – (55/57) offense grade in 2024 in 14 games, B to B+
HB2 – Khalil Herbert – (58/58) offense grade in 2024 in 11 games for Bears and Bengals, B to B+
HB3 – Tyler Goodson – (48/57) offense grade in 2024 in 15 games, C
HB4 – Salvon Ahmed – DNP in 2024, C
HB5 – Trey Sermon – (56/57) offense grade in 2024 in 17 games, D+ to C-
HB6 – Evan Hull – 1 snap in 2024, now on Steelers
As you can see from the above data the Colts collection of skill position talent is very strong but is perhaps lacking in some high-end talent. Almost everywhere you look a player is graded in the B range but they have no definitive A caliber players on their team. Perhaps with better surroundings, in particular better and more steady quarterback play, a few of the players such as Michael Pittman Jr and Jonathan Taylor can begin to emerge as A caliber players. As things currently stand, the Colts have amongst the better but perhaps not among the best collection of skill position talent in the NFL. If Pittman Jr and Taylor can begin to emerge as A caliber players with Anthony Richardson taking a big step forward in his 2nd full season as starter then the Colts collection of skill position players can certainly take the leap into the first tier of teams in that regard.
In totality on offense the Colts were a very mediocre team last season as quarterback Anthony Richardson despite being so talented showed flashes but indeed struggled in his first full season as starter. The offensive line play was above average to well above average and the skill position players the Colts had this past season were above average but perhaps not more than that. Maintaining a similar caliber of offensive line play will be a tough ask however as two of the five starters have departed in free agency to the Vikings. The team has a few guys on the roster as stated previously who are very capable of stepping up in place of them, however. The team’s collection of skill position talent is strong but perhaps not elite but the collection of skill position players has what it takes to take the leap into the elite range with better quarterback play. Obviously, as is the case with any team the offensive personnel matters quite a bit but the overall success on the offensive side of the ball is more-so contingent on the coaching and quarterback play. Offensive minded head coach Shane Steichen is heading into his third season as the head coach of the Colts. Steichen has not disappointed in his tenure with Indianapolis thus far but he has certainly not shown himself to be the next Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan as the Colts expected to get when he was appointed. Next season will likely be a make-or-break year for Steichen as now he is likely getting a healthy Antony Richardson who is not a rookie and the Colts have very strong offensive personnel. Josh Allen is a doppelganger of Anthony Richardson as both are physical freaks of nature at the quarterback position who were very raw unrefined throwers initially in the NFL. Josh Allen struggled throwing the ball just as much as Richardson has early in his career. Allen, however, has cleaned it up to the point where he is universally regarded as a top five quarterback with many regarding him as the 2nd best overall quarterback in the NFL today to Patrick Mahomes. The Colts as things currently stand have very strong offensive personnel that is in the above average to very above average range relatively speaking among the remaining teams in the league. If Indianapolis can adequately replace the two starters on the offensive line who left for the Vikings and if the likes of Pittman Jr and Jonathan Taylor can reach their full potential with better quarterback play and offensive coaching then the Colts offensive personnel will rank up there with any team in professional football outside of the Eagles. If Shane Steichen is the next Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan and if Anthony Richardson is the next Josh Allen or Cam Newton then the two will be on the clock to prove it this upcoming season. As both are heading into their third year with borderline elite offensive personnel surrounding them. If Steichen and Richardson come into their own in year 3 together with the offensive personnel Indianapolis has then the Colts will have one of the premier offensive attacks in the NFL next season.
The defensive side of the ball was concerning for the Colts last season but there were indeed many bright spots. The key defensive ranks of the Colts last season can be found below.
Colts 2024 Defensive Ranks
24th in points per game allowed
29th in yards per game allowed
9th in overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus
As you can see above the team ranked in the bottom 10 if not in the bottom 5 in regards to points and yards allowed. Pro Football Focus however graded the Colts as a top 10 overall defense in the NFL a season ago. I have conducted a similar unit by unit analysis of the Colts on the defensive side of the ball similar to what I did for the offense of Indianapolis.
Colts Starting Defensive Lineman
ED – Kwity Paye – (51/135) defense grade in 2024 over 667 snaps, B to B+
DT – Grover Stewart – (14/146) defense grade in 2024 over 690 snaps, B+
DT – DeForest Buckner – (8/146) defense grade in 2024 over 579 snaps, A-
ED – Samson Ebukam – DNP in 2024, B
Colts Rotational/Backup Defensive Lineman
ED – Laitu Latu – (35/135) defense grade in 2024 over 618 snaps, B to B+ so far as 2024 1st rounder
DT – Adetomiwa Adebawore – (73/146) defense grade in 2024 over 137 snaps, C to C+
DT – Neville Gallimore – (115/146) defense grade in 2024 over 263 snaps, C
ED – Tyquan Lewis – (60/135) defense grade in 2024 over 355 snaps, C+
ED – Isaiah Land – (128/135) defense grade in 2024 over 78 snaps, C
DT – Pheldarius Payne – 0 career snaps, undrafted 2024
ED – Durell Nchami – 0 career snaps, undrafted 2023
Colts Defensive Lineman from 2024 no longer on team
ED – Dayo Odeyingbo – (56/135) defense grade in 2024 over 746 snaps, C+
ED – Genard Avery – 2 snaps in 2024, C
ED – Adam Gotsis – (63/135) defense grade in 2024 over 71 snaps, C+ to B-
DL – Taven Bryan – (70/146) defense grade in 2024 over 340 snaps, C+ to B-
DL – Raekwon Davis – (138/146) defense grade in 2024 over 349 snaps, C to C+
Colts Starting Linebackers
LB – Jaylon Carlies – (28/92) defense grade in 2024 over 242 snaps, B so far as 2024 5th rounder
LB – Zaire Franklin – (62/92) defense grade in 2024 over 1157 snaps, C+
LB – Segun Olubi – (4/92) defense grade in 2024, C+ to B- in very limited NFL snaps
Colts Rotational/Backup Linebackers
LB – Cameron McGrone – 9 career snaps
LB – Liam Anderson – 0 career snaps
LB – Austin Ajiake – 0 career snaps
LB – Jacob Phillips – DNP in 2024, D+ to C-
Colts Linebackers from 2024 no longer on team
LB – Grant Stuard – (28/92) defense grade in 2024 over 229 snaps, B to B-
LB – E.J Speed – (74/92) defense grade in 2024 over 1011 snaps, C+ to B-
Colts Key Front Seven Statistics/Grades
3rd in run defense grade according to Pro Football Focus
24th in tackling grade according to Pro Football Focus
19th in pass rush grade according to Pro Football Focus
24th in rush yards per game allowed
24th in sacks accumulated
As you can see from the above sets of data the Colts had a strong front seven that unfortunately underwhelmed this past season. Outside of Pro Football Focus grading them 3rd in terms of run defense grade this past season the Colts front seven ranked below average to well below average in all the key remaining indicators of strong front seven play. Similar to how the offense of the team was designed the front seven was designed in a similar fashion as well. That fashion is where the team has several good to very good players dispersed everywhere with no real weak points but very few if any truly great players. The team also can look forward to getting productive edge rusher Samson Ebukam back from injury and they can also expect 2024 first rounder Laitu Latu who had a very strong rookie season to improve even more-so in his second year. I have conducted a similar analysis of the team’s secondary which can be found below.
Colts Starting Secondary Players
CB – Charvarius Ward – (97/128) defense grade in 2024 over 694 snaps with 49ers, B+
SS – Nick Cross – (29/104) defense grade in 2024 over 1156 snaps, B to B+
FS – Camryn Bynum – (58/104) defense grade in 2024 over 1028 snaps with Vikings, B to B-
CB – Jaylon Jones – (51/128) defense grade in 2024 over 1146 snaps, B to B-
NB – Kenny Moore II – (28/128) defense grade in 2024 over 1013 snaps, B to B+
Colts Rotational/Backup Secondary Players
CB – Samuel Womack III – (23/128) defense grade in 2024 over 673 snaps, B to B+
SS – Daniel Scott – 0 career snaps, 5th round 2023
FS – Rodney Thomas – (83/104) defense grade in 2024 over 98 snaps, C
CB – JuJu Brents – (99/128) defense grade in 2024 over 68 snaps, C
CB – Corey Ballentine – (108/128) defense grade in 2024 over 75 snaps, D+ to C-
S – Marcel Dabo – 0 career snaps, undrafted 2022
CB – David Long Jr – 9 snaps in 2024, C
S – Alex Johnson – undrafted 2024, 0 career snaps
Colts Secondary Players from 2024 no longer on team
S – Ronnie Harrison – 3 snaps in 2024, C
S – Julian Blackmon – (31/104) defense grade in 2024 over 1084 snaps, C+ to B-
CB – Dallis Flowers – (82/128) defense grade in 2024 over 89 snaps, C
CB – Chris Lammons – (91/128) defense grade in 2024 over 95 snaps, C
As you can see from the above a similar roster construction pattern persists with the secondary as it did for the rest of the team. Where there are several very good players everywhere with no definitive weak points as all the starters are above average to well above average. But the team lacks the presence of a truly high impact star or superstar in the unit as is the case with the rest of the team. The team has added Charvarius Ward who although had a down year in the 2024 season is typically among the better if not the best overall corners in the league.
2024 Key Secondary Statistics/Grades
12th in coverage grade according to Pro Football Focus
26th in passing yards per game allowed
Overall, on the defensive side of the ball the Colts were very talented this past season and from a talent standpoint project to be even better heading into next season with the addition of Charvarius Ward in the backend. However, despite the team being above average at worst in terms of talent on defense they finished bottom 10 if not bottom 5 in both yards and points allowed. This can certainly be attributed to lackluster coaching on the defensive side of the ball and the team has since fired defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. The team has now hired former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo for the same position. Anarumo was effective for the Bengals coordinating the defense including shutting out Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in one half of a conference title. Bill Belichick/Brian Flores with the Patriots in 2018 are the only other ones who can say that. The defensive talent is strong if not very strong and similar to the rest of the roster construction it is comprised of several good to very good players in each unit but perhaps very few if any truly great ones. There is no reason that if Lou Anarumo is the right fit for the job that the Colts cannot have one of the better if not one of the best defenses in the NFL next season especially if they were to see improvement on the offensive side of the ball as well.
In totality the Colts are one of the teams I look forward to watching the most next season. Quarterback Anthony Richardson is a freakish talent at the position and very few if any quarterbacks have ever had his combination of arm strength, speed, and size at the position. The Colts roster has no weak points anywhere but is perhaps lacking some star power. There are more than a few players however such as Jonathan Taylor, Quenton Nelson, Michael Pittmann Jr, and Charvarius Ward who when playing at their best are among the premier players at their position. If Shane Steichen is indeed the next Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan/Kevin O’Connell and if Anthony Richardson is indeed the next Josh Allen, there is no reason that they can’t start to be that in year 3 in the NFL as a head coach and quarterback respectively. If Steichen and Richardson are indeed the real deal then the Colts with an above average to a well above average roster with no definitive holes can certainly contend next season for at least the AFC South title if not more.
