To what I’m going to guess is a surprise to very few, the Indianapolis Colts had the least amount of roster turnover from 2023 to 2024 among all NFL teams.
With 53-man rosters and practice squads set, Over the Cap compared each team’s current roster to their 2023 roster to see how much turnover there was for each organization.
For the Colts, a whopping 81.7 percent of their total roster from 2023 is still currently on the team. This, of course, is the most in football. Second-place is the Cleveland Browns with 73.8 percent of their 2023 roster returning.
The Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, and Green Bay Packers round out the top-five teams with the least amount of roster turnover.
Continuity was very much the theme of the offseason for GM Chris Ballard and the Colts. As ESPN’s Stephen Holder noted a few months back, the Colts did spend over $200 million this offseason, it just so happens that most of that went to retaining their own players.
In fact, excluding the draft, the only outside additions made in free agency were the signings of Joe Flacco and Raekwon Davis.
That continuity is going to have to be a catalyst behind what the Colts hope becomes a playoff push this season. In short, familiarity with a system can open up more opportunities within the playbook, along with faster, more confident play with each player not only comfortable with their responsibilities but also knowing the roles of the players around them.
“Well, I think you can see the communication and the chemistry with the guys,” said Shane Steichen during minicamp. “We signed a lot of our guys back, which I think that’s a bonus and I think that’s a plus for us.
“Sometimes, you get so many new faces here and then you got to recreate the communication piece of it. Guys know the standard. Guys know how to operate and I think that’s going to pay dividends come September and in the fall.”
On the opposite end of the continuity spectrum, the Washington Commanders have only 39.0 percent of last year’s players still on the team had the most turnover this offseason.
To compare the Colts 2023 initial 53-man roster to this years, click here.