The Colts were likely the best team in the AFC when they had a healthy QB this past season and held the rank of being the top scoring offense in the NFL for the most part when QB1 Daniel Jones was indeed healthy. The offensive line of the team, the talent of Jones, along with the smarts of offensive minded head coach Shane Stiechen all were large contributing factors to that, but the skill position grouping of Indianapolis was underrated as well. Here I will do an analysis of the skill players that the Colts have on offense heading into next year.
Starting at running back, Jonathan Taylor is arguably one of the premier running backs in the NFL and he leads the Colts out of the backfield. Taylor after his first two seasons in the NFL was viewed as maybe the premier running back in the sport with Pro Football Focus grading him as a top six overall back both years, including being graded as the best overall running back in year 2. Taylor has had his inconsistencies and struggles in four seasons since but had the best year of his career since years 1+2 in the league this past 2025 season. Taylor is a star if not a superstar at running back for the Colts, although he lacks consistency. The Colts do however lack depth behind Taylor at running back as they do not have a single surefire NFL caliber player on the depth chart behind Taylor as of now. 2025 5th rounder DJ Giddens who had an awful rookie season in limited snaps is currently the #2 back on the depth chart as of now.
At tight end the Colts are currently led by 2025 1st round rookie Tyler Warren in the unit who had a solid rookie year that he is line to build off of. Warren graded in the slightly above average range among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus and made the Pro Bowl despite being a rookie. Warren was drafted in the first half of the first round which is rare for a tight end to be drafted that high, while he was also given the award for being the best overall tight end in college football during his last season in college. Given his draft hype and very strong rookie season, he projects to be a star heading into year 2 onwards.
The Colts have a good amount of depth at tight end behind Warren as of now, as they have three very capable players. Mo Alie Cox is one of the premier reserve tight ends in the sport, producing at a borderline elite level in reserve snaps in his first four season in the NFL, although tailing off for the past four seasons. 2023 5th rounder Will Mallory had a very strong rookie season although having a sophomore slump and not playing much after. While Andrew Ogletree had a very strong year 1 and 2 in the NFL in limited snaps although tailing off in year 3 last season. All three reserve tight ends have a very high ceiling but lack consistency, there is a very good chance that at least one is on their A game to complement Warren in the unit.
At wide receiver the Colts have some talent as well led by Alec Pierce who has silently become one of the most underrated players in the NFL today. Pierce has ranked either 1st or 2nd in the NFL in yards per reception for the past two seasons and crossed the 1000-yard mark for the first time last year. Now that he is in a leading wide out role, we could see Pierce emerge as one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL.
Josh Downs will complement Pierce in the unit and is also a very strong player. Downs in 2024 and 2025, the two seasons outside of his rookie year, graded (12/110), and (27/97), in terms of an overall offense grade among players at his position according to Pro Football Focus. Now that Downs is set to get more targets with the departure of Michael Pittman, we could see Downs emerge as one of the premier WR2’s in the sport today.
The Colts however lack the presence of playmakers at the wide out spot to complement Pierce and Downs. Ashton Dulin who has 40 career receptions in six season and grades in the below average range the majority of the time according to Pro Football Focus is the team’s current #3 wide out. Indianapolis will be reliant upon him and former 1st rounder Laquon Treadwell in particular to provide depth to an otherwise thin Colts’ wide receiver unit. The Colts will likely need to stay healthier in their wide out unit and/or have some unproven players step up to the plate and emerge as strong depth options in the case of injurie(s).
The Colts have one of the premier grouping of skill position players in the NFL, Jonathan Taylor is one of the most talented running backs in the NFL, Tyler Warren is a first round pick tight end going into year 2 in the NFL after a very strong first year while the Colts have one of the deepest tight end units in the NFL as well, while the duo of Alec Pierce and Josh Downs is very underrated and could emerge as one of the premier wide receiver duos in the sport starting soon. The Colts however lack depth at running back and at wide receiver and will likely need to stay healthier in those units and/or see some unproven players emerge as strong options. A breakdown of the skill position grouping for the Colts heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
2026 Notable Colts’ Running Backs
HB1- Jonathan Taylor – B+ to A-, A+ ceiling but inconsistent
2026 Notable Colts’ Wide Receivers
WR1 – Alec Pierce – B+ to A-, still improving
WR2- Josh Downs – B+ to A-, still improving
2026 Notable Colts’ Tight Ends
TE1 – Tyler Warren – B to B- as rookie in 2025, 2025 1st rounder, will likely greatly improve heading into year 2
TE2 – Mo Alie-Cox – C+ to B-, one of premier reserve tight ends for years, has since tailed off however
TE3 – Drew Ogletree – C+ to B-, great start to his career in very limited snaps in year 1 and 2, tailed off in year 3 in 2025 however
TE4 – Will Mallory – C+, very strong start to his career, has tailed off in limited action since however
