A pessimist's guide to the 2024 Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts fell one win shy of making the playoffs last season with their backup quarterback and a roster that some say overachieved.

Here’s why the Colts should be worried next season.

Jury is still out on Anthony Richardson

In a four-game sample size before suffering a season-ending elbow injury, Richardson showed glimpses of being a franchise quarterback. But his injury was to the AC joint in his throwing shoulder, and despite having successful surgery, no one will truly know if the second-year QB is 100 percent until he starts playing against live defenses.

Even if Richardson is fine from a health standpoint, how long will that last? The 22-year-old QB took quite a few unnecessary shots last year, and there’s still questions regarding his decision making. Richardson completed only 45.5% of his passes when under pressure last season, and all seven of his sacks came when he was pressured. The Colts coaching staff needs to work with Richardson on limiting his unnecessary damage and making better decisions under duress.

They did next to nothing in free agency

Of the 12 players the Colts signed during free agency, only two of them were from other teams — defensive tackle Raekwon Davis and quarterback Joe Flacco. While retaining many of your priority free agents is typically a positive, it doesn’t make up for the fact that most of Indy’s roster looks like the one it fielded last year.

Keeping defensive tackle Grover Stewart and cornerback Kenny Moore were must-make moves, and drafting edge-rusher Laiatu Latu and receiver Adonai Mitchell were great value picks, but looking at the offseason in its totality, Indianapolis may just be the least improved team in the AFC South.

Unimproved secondary

Moore and safety Julian Blackmon were two of the Colts’ top defensive backs last season, and keeping them both around was good roster management by the front office. However, not signing any of the top free-agent cornerbacks (like Chidobe Awuzie) or safeties (like Xavier McKinney, C.J. Gardner-Johnson or Justin Simmons), and not drafting a DB before Round 5 was just bad judgement.

Instead of taking the top-rated CB in the draft at pick No. 15 like Quinyon Mitchell or Terrion Arnold and strengthening their weakest defensive position, the Colts took a top edge-rusher and bolstered arguably their strongest position. The Texans (Stefon Diggs), Jaguars (Gabriel Davis, Brian Thomas Jr.) and Titans (Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd) all improved their passing offenses, but the Colts failed to keep up in the arms race.