Are the Colts one of the NFL's most overrated teams heading into 2024 season?

Are the Indianapolis Colts one of the the most overrated teams in the NFL heading into the 2024 season? According to The Athletic they are, as the publication recently included them in a list of the league's most overrated teams.

The other teams included in the "overrated" section are the Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, and Baltimore Ravens. Here's what was written about the Colts potentially being hyped up a little too much.

"Yes, they exceeded expectations last season and also managed to re-sign 10 of 13 core players with expiring contracts. And, yes, the Colts expect to make significant strides in Year 2 under Shane Steichen. But Anthony Richardson is essentially still a rookie, having played only four games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery. Not only does the quarterback have rust to knock off, but he also still has quite a bit of learning to do."

All eyes on Richardson

As the article alluded to, Indianapolis' success in 2024 will hinge largely on second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. The University of Florida product was limited to just four games during his rookie campaign, but he was still able to flash some serious potential in his limited run.

In those four games, Richardson recorded 577 passing yards and three tossing touchdowns, along with 136 rushing yards and four more TDs on the ground.

Though he got to show some of his stuff as a rookie, Richardson doesn't feel like he got to show anywhere near his full arsenal, and he's excited for the opportunity to do so in his second season.

"People didn't really get to see everything I could do on the field," Richardson said earlier this offseason. "So, it's kind of like a rookie season for me still. But now I've gained a lot more knowledge and understanding about football and the NFL. So, I'm a rookie at heart, but now I'm slowly turning into the leader that my team needs me to be. I'm ready for every opportunity that's in front of me."

Ultimately, how Richardson performs during his second season will go a long way toward determining if the Colts are overrated, or maybe even underrated in 2024.