Free agency has shifted a ton of top-tier talent to the AFC. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts are sitting on their hands watching it all happen.
While teams like the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens are getting stronger by the day, it leaves teams like the Indianapolis Colts sitting behind getting weaker.
With seven playoff teams, four of them could likely come from the AFC West. The Chiefs are a perennial contender with Patrick Mahomes, and the rest of their division beefed up their rosters to contend for a division title.
So with the three wildcard spots taken, the rest of the AFC will likely have to win their division just to make the playoffs. There is a possibility that multiple AFC North teams can make it also, but they’re going to have to beat out one of the West teams this season.
Do the Colts have a chance at winning the AFC South?
The Colts needed to add weapons to compete for an AFC South division title. They haven’t won the division since 2014 when Andrew Luck was the quarterback for the Colts.
After the 2021 season, Indy has built a team that can start to compete, but costly mistakes from key positions cost too many games which resulted in missing the playoffs. Several positions need to be added in free agency, and so far only one was taken care of.
With the addition of Yannick Ngakoue in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Colts have added their much-needed LEO position on the defensive line. That resulted in the Colts sending a young corner out to Las Vegas.
Being a Colts Fan during free agency feels kinda like when you’re a kid and everyone is going to cool places for Spring Break and you’re just chillin at home. pic.twitter.com/vZQusjko4U
— Kyle Calder (@kcalder_21) March 18, 2022
The Colts have continued to miss on top-tier free agents at the wide receiver, tight end, quarterback, left tackle, and cornerback positions.
Luckily for Indianapolis, the Tennessee Titans have also been fairly quiet in free agency. Although, the Jacksonville Jaguars have really beefed up their team and could be a sneaky competitor.
AFC is beefing up and leaving Indy behind
Indianapolis had been a perennial AFC title contender for over a decade, but recently, they are just an average, run-of-the-mill team. The conference now has at least eight young superstar quarterbacks and the Colts have Sam Ehlinger.
This team is losing grasp of any relevancy in the AFC and will continue to be laughed at as time goes without spending money.
AFC arms race currently happening. All of these teams loading up in fear of this man. pic.twitter.com/taQ8mbenOh
— Dan Schulte (@showltee) March 18, 2022
Indianapolis walked into free agency with almost $70 million in cap space and so far has only spent $29 million (mostly due to the Ngakoue trade). The majority of players signed were Indy’s own players that could have walked.
If Indianapolis does not kick it into gear, there are going to be major issues in the future years. We see superstars leave teams to go play with contenders all the time. What makes you think players like Quenton Nelson, Darius Leonard, and DeForest Buckner want to stay if the team has no motivation at bringing in winners?
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