Indianapolis Colts Offseason Grade
Did the Colts do enough to set Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson up to take a leap?
The NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, the marquee free agent signings have long been made, and offseason programs are kicking into gear across the country. The calendar may say April, but preparations for the 2025 NFL season are well underway.
Leading into free agency, we profiled nearly half the league’s biggest needs and the three moves that they needed to make in order for the 2025 offseason to be considered a success.
Then, the new league year snuck up on us, I didn’t start the series early enough to get to every team, so we are picking up where we left off and evaluating each team’s offseason, including offering a grade for what they’ve done. So far.
The plan is to profile at least two teams per week leading up to training camp beginning in late July, eventually rounding back and hitting the teams that we profiled ahead of the offseason getting underway.
Today, we kick off with the Indianapolis Colts …
What I liked about what the Colts have done
Indianapolis made a concerted effort to add veteran contributors on both sides of the ball this offseason, including setting the stage for one of the most fascinating quarterback battles to be waged across the country later this summer.
Cornerback Charvarius Ward has the potential to be an outlook-elevating addition to a defense that finished 28th against the pass last season, while allowing 243 yards per game. Ward arrives looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 campaign, but just one year removed from holding opposing quarterbacks to a meager 62.3 passer rating when targeting him and pulling down five interceptions.
Adding Corey Ballentine and safety Cam Bynum complete a makeover of the secondary, but the biggest change of all on that side of the football is the arrival of Lou Anarumo as defensive coordinator, who, as recently as the 2023 offseason, had been interviewing for head coaching jobs.
Offensively, the Colts have set either Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson up for a soft landing.
Running back Khalil Herbert is criminally underrated after being a bit underused in Chicago. After all, the last time he was anywhere close to the lead-dog in the Windy City, he forced 33 missed tackles while rattling off 13 explosive runs of 10-plus yards in 2022. Pairing Herbert alongside Jonathan Taylor could create a dynamic backfield duo.
In the passing game, the Colts added one of the steals of the entire draft, as Penn State tight end Tyler Warren fell to them at No. 14 overall, bringing a versatile Swiss-Army Knife of a reliable pass catcher with elite after-the-catch traits.
Warren can stretch the field, as illustrated by his five deep catches last season and elite 2.78 yards per route run average. He can also serve as a security blanket underneath for either Jones or Richardson, who get to push the ball downfield to Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, and second-year emerging star Adonai Mitchell.
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There were 257 players chosen over the weekend during the 2025 NFL Draft, but it was the one who free-fell to the fifth round that drove the conversation and hovered over Green Bay like dark snowclouds on a grey winter’s day.
What Worries Me About the Colts’ Offseason and 2025 Outlook
In an era where teams have leaned into the passing game harder and further than ever before, I’m not sure the Colts have enough firepower on the perimeter to set the offense up for success.
This offseason saw D.K. Metcalf traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Stefon Diggs land in New England, Cooper Kupp head north to the Seattle Seahawks, and Davante Adams land opposite Puka Nacua in Matthew Stafford’s arsenal. While several of the top veterans at the position found new homes before free agency officially began, the Colts largely … stood pat.
Tyler Warren has the potential to be a game-altering weapon, and Shane Steichen might be inclined to lean even heavier into the running game than the Colts did a year ago. But, betting on Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell taking big strides feels like a boom-or-bust proposition in a season where the franchise is simultaneously trying to advance the ball towards competing while evaluating its long-term future at quarterback.
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Indianapolis Colts Offseason Grade: B+
Much of the Colts’ outlook on defense could hinge on Ward’s ability to return to form in the secondary, but overall, there’s potential for this unit to see a significant upgrade from last season, based on Anarumo’s presence alone.
However, outside of banking on continuity at receiver leading to improvement, what the Colts did a nice job of is adding quality weapons around whoever winds up behind center in September.
I was told by one executive, who spoke to several coaches this offseason during the interview process, that there is a strong belief in the coaching community that Jones has a significant chance of being “this year’s Sam Darnold,” as the former first-round pick who experiences a career renaissance.
In a wide-open AFC South, where only the Houston Texans appear to have created much separation from the pack, if Jones delivers, and the veteran additions add key contributions on both sides of the ball, Indianapolis could push for a wild-card berth, at minimum.
The Colts might not have made the loudest moves, but the pieces are there. Now it’s up to Steichen — and either Richardson or Jones — to prove this roster can turn potential into postseason reality.
Which move should have the Colts the most optimistic, and what should keep head coach Shane Steichen up at night? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
