To say last year was a disappointment for the Indianapolis Colts would be an understatement.
They were just one game away from making the playoffs in head coach Shane Steichen's first season, so many fans expected them to carry that momentum into 2024.
Instead, they finished under .500 and were distracted by the seemingly never-ending Anthony Richardson saga.
The second-year quarterback was under heavy scrutiny at multiple points throughout the season and his lack of progression ultimately held the Colts back from achieving their full potential.
Indianapolis has talent scattered all throughout the offense, but the abysmal quarterback play has prevented that talent from shining through most of the time.
For this reason, the Colts brought in much maligned quarterback Daniel Jones to compete with Richardson for the starting job.
They also greatly improved their secondary with some impressive free agent signings. This way, if neither quarterback does much to impress the coaching staff, the team can rely on the new look defense to keep them in games.
Although Indianapolis has done some nice things this offseason, next year is expected to be much of the same.
Oct 27, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) walks on the field after the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports ranked the best teams in the AFC and the Colts came in at No. 11.
He cited the secondary and the quarterback position as the team's main areas of need, which they addressed. However, Dajani can't look past the offensive line pieces that left on the open market.
Indianapolis did lose Will Fries and Ryan Kelly in free agency who were valuable pieces on the interior of the offensive line. But the additions they made were so impactful that they are impossible to ignore.
Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum are two of the best players at their position and they'll be added to an already solid defensive group.
It's also worth mentioning that the teams ranked ahead of the Colts, like the Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders haven't added much in free agency.
So, if Indianapolis can extract more production from the quarterback position next year, they may be able to surpass those teams.
Related: Anthony Richardson's Future With Colts Could be in Danger
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This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 2:50 PM.