An optimist's guide to the 2024 Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts were without their starting quarterback and running back at varying points last season and they still came within one game of making it to the postseason.

Here’s why the Colts can get back to playoff-contender status next season.

A healthy Anthony Richardson

Only getting four games out of Richardson last season after taking him fourth overall was a gut punch, but the 22-year-old quarterback showed flashes in those four games (he threw just one interception and scored seven combined touchdowns) to offer quite a bit of optimism once he returns from his shoulder surgery.

Richardson has all the tools of a franchise QB – he’s athletic, can move in the pocket, has a strong arm, solid mechanics and is an explosive athlete. If he can learn to take fewer risks and be more conscious of not putting his body in harm’s way, good things should happen for Indy’s offense.

Surplus of offensive weapons

Though RB Zack Moss and his 794 rushing yards and six touchdowns are now in Cincinnati, the Colts should get more than 10 games and 741 yards out of Jonathan Taylor next season. It took Taylor a couple of games to start looking like himself, but once he got back in the swing of things, there were glimpses of the former rushing champ. 

In addition to having one of the top running backs in the NFL, the Colts also boast a significantly better WR group than they did last season. Michael Pittman Jr. was locked up to a three-year deal and Indy may have gotten a steal in the second round of April’s draft when Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell fell into its lap. 

Mitchell has the speed and big-play ability that’s been missing from the Colts’ passing game and pairing him with Pittman Jr., Josh Downs (who had 68 receptions, 771 yards and two scores as rookie) and Alec Pierce, (who’s logged 1,107 yards and four touchdowns over the last two years) gives the Colts the makings of a potential top-10 offense.

A top-five pass-rush that only got better

The Colts got lots of sack production from several different players last season, including Samson Ebukam (9.5), Kwity Paye (8.5), Dayo Odeyingbo (eight), DeForest Buckner (eight) and Tyquan Lewis (four). All of them are returning for the coming campaign.

But the cherry on top for Indy is the addition of a player to its roster who many believe was the top pass-rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft in UCLA edge-rusher Laiatu Latu. During his final collegiate season, the 23-year-old rookie totaled 62 pressures, 36 hurries, 13 sacks, 11 QB hits, two forced fumbles and two interceptions while posting a pass-rush win-rate of 26.2%, per Pro Football Focus. The Colts had the fifth-most sacks in the NFL last season and after throwing a player of Latu’s caliber into the mix, they could potentially be the top unit in the NFL when it comes to getting to the quarterback next season.