ESPN believes Colts ‘are caught within the center, however a transfer or two away’ amongst NFL tiers
In line with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (subscription), the Indianapolis Colts are ‘caught within the center . . . however a transfer or two away’ amongst potential NFL tiers headed into the 2025 offseason:
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE … BUT A MOVE OR TWO AWAY
Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
Common age of roster: 26.6
Wage cap area: $27.3 million
Whole 2025 draft picks (projected): 7
What’s subsequent: Time to alter. No group embodies the NFL center fairly just like the Colts, whose 8-9 file final season was quasi-impressive given the drama round quarterback Anthony Richardson and the protection’s late-season collapse. GM Chris Ballard has embraced the necessity for change, one thing that others within the constructing have echoed privately. Everybody in Indy is wanting inwardly for options after a bizarre marketing campaign. It’s going to should spend greater than it has previously, beginning with a top quality quarterback to push Richardson. Selections loom alongside the offensive line, with guard Will Fries and heart Ryan Kelly due paydays in free company. The group can save cap area by releasing Braden Smith ($16.8 million), Samson Ebukam ($8 million), Raekwon Davis ($6.5 million) and Tyquan Lewis ($4.8 million).
The Colts discover themselves on this middling, however considerably hopeful tier with fellow NFL groups such because the Atlanta Falcons (9-8), Dallas Cowboys (7-10), and San Francisco 49ers (6-11)—which actually, having each the Cowboys and 49ers in the identical tier is considerably comforting (who aren’t far faraway from being bona fide Tremendous Bowl contenders).
It’s onerous to disagree with the evaluation proper now too.
The Colts have lately been a really common NFL group as of late, ok to beat the underside feeders for probably the most half (and largely keep out of getting a High 10 draft choose), however not nice sufficient to persistently beat the league’s higher to elite competitors.
Proper now, it’s a crucial offseason—and even arguably a make-or-break one for its key decision-makers comparable to common supervisor Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen, in addition to their franchise quarterback hopeful Anthony Richardson’s future.
Whereas they could be a ‘transfer or two away’ from being an AFC wild card group once more (which the franchise hasn’t made the playoffs since 2020 and could be no small feat), they give the impression of being realistically nearer to a Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or Joe Burrow away from being a perennial AFC juggernaut once more.
