The Indianapolis Colts had two main priorities this offseason. One was to re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones, and the other was to re-sign wide receiver Alec Pierce. Mission accomplished. But is the team better, and in a position to compete for the playoffs and, potentially, a title?
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report says no. In fact, in a recent article listing 12 different teams as "contender" or "pretender," with most being the former, Indy is listed firmly in the pretender category.
Davenport writes, "The health of Jones will go a long way toward determining how the Colts fare in 2026. But it's difficult to imagine a hobbled Jones leading a good-but-not-great team past the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South."
Indianapolis Colts listed as "pretenders" in 2026, according to Bleacher Report
As much as one might want to argue with Dacenport's logic, the truth is, he isn't wrong. Indianapolis fans can't assume that bringing back a couple of good players, but not adding any other proven veterans, means Indy is suddenly good enough to overtake two division rivals they have struggled with recently.
The Colts haven't made the playoffs since 2020, haven't won the AFC South since 2014, yet every other team has won the division crown at least twice. That's embarrassing.
While the past is, obviously, the past, in the near future, the Texans and Jaguars are still going to be solid. The Tennessee Titans seem to have improved as well, though just how much is not yet known.
Maybe the Indianapolis Colts, if most key players stay healthy and efficient, can get past the Jaguars, who lost several good players in free agency, but the Texans were aggressive in making moves they think will push them closer to a Super Bowl run. On paper, Houston is much better than Indy and everyone else in the division.
One can also not look past the fact that even before Daniel Jones tore his Achilles tendon in Week 14, the team was outside the playoff picture, looking in. Injuries hurt the team's cause, of course, but a tougher schedule in the second half of the season factored in as well.
Jones, Pierce, and the rest of the Michael Pittman-less offense don't need to replicate the first-half success it had for Indianapolis to be good in 2026, but the offense needs to come close. The defense wasn't great last year, and there is no guarantee that it will be much better. The Colts could prove Gary Davenport's prediction correct and simply be pretenders.
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