Roster building is not only about trying to win now, but it’s about being able to maintain any success that comes in the short-term. So where do the Colts land in ESPN’s Future Power Rankings?
ESPN released its annual Future Power Ranking projections, where they focus on the three-year outlook (2024-2026) for all 32 teams.
To put these rankings together, ESPN’s panel of experts–Dan Graziano, Louis Riddick, and Aaron Schatz–rated each team’s quarterback situation, the remaining roster, along with the front office and coaching staff on a grading scale ranging from A-F.
The results for each team are then averaged out and the four categories are weighted to created an overall score.
When it was all said and done, the Colts came in at No. 19 on this list with an overall score of 78.2 on a 100 point scale. Below is where the Colts ranked in each of the four categories:
Overall roster (minus QB): 21st
Quarterback: 18th
Coaching: 16th
Front Office: 19th
Ultimately, the Colts’ outlook over the next three years will primarily be determined by the play of Anthony Richardson. If he finds success and proves to be the long-term option at quarterback, then the Colts should fly up these rankings.
Truthfully, before seeing the full rankings, I thought the Colts would be a bit higher than near the bottom-third. A number of core players are still under contract for the next three seasons, such as Michael Pittman, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Kenny Moore, Quenton Nelson, Jonathan Taylor, and Zaire Franklin.
In addition to that, the Colts also have key contributors who are still playing on their rookie deals for at least two more seasons, including Josh Downs, Laiatu Latu, Adonai Mitchell, Bernhard Raimann, and Richardson. While salary cap-wise, the team is in a good spot to be able to make offseason additions.
In Steichen’s first season as head coach, without Richardson, he led the Colts to a 9-8 record and on the cusp of making the playoffs–not to mention that wherever he’s gone, his quarterbacks have found success.
Having said all of that said, Steichen is only entering his second season as a head coach and Richardson has just 98 career dropbacks, so perhaps, as ESPN puts these rankings together, they’re in wait-and-see mode and needing a larger sample size.
However, the recipe for the Colts to break through and find some sustained success appears to be there.