After a turmoil-filled 2024 season, the Indianapolis Colts are looking to bounce back in a big way. Throughout the year, the Colts found themselves fluctuating in the power rankings each week, Though the season ended better than it seemed, at 9-8, it seemed like a huge step backwards for the team.
Now, the Colts are hoping to rebuild and get back on the right path, but will that be enough? With training camp looming, Frank Schwab made some power rankings, and put the Colts at #24.
First up is the offseason report, for which Schwab gave the Colts a C.
"The Colts set out to get help for the secondary, find some quarterback competition and also add a playmaker at tight end. They signed cornerback Charvarius Ward (three years, $54 million) and safety Camryn Bynum (four years, $60 million), which gave the secondary a much-needed boost. Daniel Jones was signed on a one-year deal for $14 million, which was unfortunately necessary due to Anthony Richardson's struggles. In the draft, the Colts picked tight end Tyler Warren in the first round. He was considered a top-10 prospect by many and it was a bit surprising he was available to the Colts at No. 14. The Colts also lost some key players: Offensive linemen Will Fries and Ryan Kelly and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo signed elsewhere, and those are big losses."Frank Schwab
This is likely a fair grade; yes, picking up Charvarius Ward, Cam Bynum, and Tyler Warren were great moves. But losing Dayo Odeyingbo and Will Fries was less exciting, particularly Fries.
Then there is the issue of Daniel Jones, who Schwab doesn't seem to think has much promise anymore.
"Daniel Jones wasn't great with the New York Giants, but how much of that is Giants malaise? Ask Saquon Barkley how much it can help to get out of New York. Jones has had some good stretches of play, but his middling 84.3 career passer rating tells plenty of his story. He has never thrown for more than 3,205 yards in a season and since throwing for 24 touchdowns as a rookie, he has 46 passing touchdowns in his last five seasons combined. Jones has 69 career starts, so it's not like he's inexperienced. At age 28, he's probably not changing much as a player. "Frank Schwab
The Daniel Jones hype train was working overtime recently, but the reality is that he has struggled almost as much as Richardson has. He might end up being a decent QB who can go through the motions, but it seems unlikely that he is suddenly going to turn into a dynamic leader who can create explosive plays and actually elevate this offense.
Schwab pointed out that the run game was one of the highlights of the Colts team last season, and will likely continue to be a high point this year, too. Additionally, he thinks there's reason to be optimistic about the new Lou Anarumo-led defense, but that ultimately, the answer will lie in the Colts' problems at quarterback. if neither Jones nor Richardson end up impressing, then the team will end up starting all over again in 2026.
"It's hard to predict the Colts' season because Anthony Richardson's health is uncertain going into training camp. At this point, Daniel Jones should probably be considered the favorite to start Week 1. And where would that leave the Colts?" he concluded.
"Jones could be the latest quarterback to reinvent himself with a new team after failing in his first stop, but it's more likely he replicates his underwhelming play we saw for six seasons with the Giants. Richardson seems likely to start at some point, whether he wins the job in August or takes over because Jones is not the answer, but who knows what to expect of him after last seasons's issues. It seems hard to believe GM Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen survive without at least a winning season. If the Colts deliver another losing season and there's no significant progress with Richardson, it seems likely that Indianapolis will be starting all over in 2026."