Three Colts players make PFF’s top 101 players of 2022

Despite having an underwhelming season as a team, three Indianapolis Colts were highlighted in PFF’s top 101 player rankings for the 2022 season.

2022 was a season to forget for the Indianapolis Colts. The team finished the year with an abysmal 4-12-1 record, so it’s understandable that Indy hasn’t dominated a lot of end-of-season lists. The Colts only had one Pro Bowler this year and it was Quenton Nelson. This is much different than 2021 when Indy had a league-high seven Pro Bowlers and several players were present on the end-of-year lists.

In addition to losing a lot, star players Shaq Leonard and Jonathan Taylor both battled injury and weren’t allowed to showcase their abilities. Even still, the Colts aren’t being completely shutout of these end-of-season rankings. Recently, Sam Monson ranked the top 101 players of the 2022 season for PFF. In the rankings, three Colts were present.

Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was the highest representative for Indianapolis at No. 67. The other two Colts on the list were both veteran defensive backs in their first seasons in Indy. Stephon Gilmore was ranked No. 75 and Rodney McLeod was ranked No. 100.

DeForest Buckner, Stephon Gilmore, and Rodney McLeod represent Colts in PFF’s top 101

For Buckner, Monson highlighted that Buckner “posted an 82.3 overall PFF grade and recorded 56 pressures and 47 defensive stops.” He was one of the key pieces to Indy’s very solid defense. He played in all 17 games and recorded eight sacks, 74 tackles, and 11 tackles for a loss. Lining up next to Grover Stewart, the two were on the front line of a defense that started the year as one of the best.

On the backend of the defense was a mix of younger and older players that were all extremely talented. Stephon Gilmore, in his first season with the Colts, proved that he’s still an elite corner. Monson pointed out that Gilmore “finished with an 81.1 PFF coverage grade and eight pass breakups to go along with two interceptions.” Although Indy didn’t win many games, Gilmore played a big part in the games Indianapolis did win.

When the Colts signed Stephon Gilmore last offseason, he was expected to be a pivotal player. However, when Indy signed Rodney McLeod, the expectation was that he’d be a veteran depth piece. That’s how the season started for him but it ended with him eventually getting a starting role and having one of the best seasons of his 11-year career. Monson pointed out that “From Week 8 onward, he earned the second-best overall PFF grade among all safeties.”

McLeod will now be entering free agency and could be retiring. However, Buckner and Gilmore are still under contract with the Colts, and as Indy gets healthy this offseason and rebuild its roster, the expectation for next year will be for the team to be more competitive, and as a result, be more represented on these lists.

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