The Indianapolis Colts were uncharacteristically active during the opening phases of free agency. Though the times called for a change in philosophy, the moves made by general manager Chris Ballard has brought back optimism in regards to the horseshoe.
There is no denying the Colts are better off now than they were at the beginning of the offseason. They traded for an extremely talented interior defensive lineman in DeForest Buckner. They also paid up to sign quarterback Philip Rivers, a move that has somewhat divided the fanbase.
But there is some hype growing with the Colts and their prospects for the 2020 season. Could there be too much hype, though? In listing six teams that could wind up being on the hype train (à la Browns 2019), Michael Colangelo listed the Colts as one of those organizations.
The Colts just picked up DeForest Buckner and Philip Rivers. They have one of the best offensive lines in football. They have a young defense. They don’t have a first-round draft pick, but they don’t need it. A lot of people will be picking the Colts to win the AFC South, and they will be a sleeper Super Bowl pick in the AFC.
The problem is that Rivers wasn’t all that good last year. The Colts need more production from their weapons on the outside and Marlon Mack needs to stay healthy for their rushing attack.
The Titans should be considered the top team in the AFC South. The Texans will be competitive. It’s not a slam dunk for the Colts.
There is certainly more love for the Colts right now after making some big moves to begin the new league year. But that optimism is also warranted.
Buckner is an elite talent at the three-technique and should make the entire defense better. His contract might look a little big at face value, but the details show that won’t be anything to worry about in a few years when the market continues to explode.
Rivers is polarizing. It’s understandable that he brings concern, especially with his 20 interceptions in 2019. But most would agree, in a vacuum, he is an upgrade over Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. He’s willing to push the ball downfield and get the offense going. Sometimes that ends in a turnover but at least he’s giving the offense a chance.
With the draft still coming up, the hype train is likely to grow louder for the Colts. Chris Ballard has a way of finding talent throughout the three-day event, and his track record shows he should be given the benefit of the doubt.
The division is wide open and up for grabs by just about any of the four teams and while being overhyped can lead to disappointment at times, it does mean the Colts are heading in the right direction.