Colts drop in NFL power rankings after start of free agency

The Indianapolis Colts have dropped in NFL.com's power rankings after a relatively slow start to free agency. While the Colts have been far from frugal this offseason, most of the contracts they've handed out have been to their own players, and as a result the roster looks a lot like it did last season.

In the post-Super Bowl edition of the rankings, the Colts came in at No. 17, but after free agency's early returns, they've dropped down to 21st in the latest edition of the rankings. Apparently the outside additions of Joe Flacco and Raekwon Davis haven't inspired too much confidence in pundits.

From NFL.com:

"On the one hand, it has to be disappointing for Colts fans to see that, even though the team has handed out a hefty sum of money this offseason, the roster still doesn't look markedly different. Raekwon Davis will help keep the D-line fresh, and I'm not overlooking what Joe Flacco could do to help Anthony Richardson's development, while also giving the team a sturdy safety net in case Richardson suffers another injury at some point.

". . . But if the Colts can add one or two more pass catchers and keep building on the defense (the secondary and pass rush are big areas to target for me), it wouldn't be stunning to see them finish what they couldn't in 2023 and make the postseason."

It's fair to question Indianapolis' lack of action in free agency, but at the same time, this is a team that went 9-8 last season despite having their starting quarterback for just four games. With a healthy Anthony Richardson, the Colts should be better by default. You can't necessarily blame the team's front office for wanting to see what the team looks like when healthy.

Plus, they were able to lock up many of their key contributors with new deals, and that roster continuity could help to promote consistency and familiarity moving forward.

At the end of the day, offseason power rankings don't mean too much. Let's wait and see how the Colts look out on the field before jumping to any roster-related conclusions.