ESPN put together its ranking of all 32 offensive line units ahead of the 2024 NFL season. So, where does the Colts’ offensive line group fall on this list?
As I’m sure you can imagine, the Colts offensive line ranks quite well among its peers. This is a unit that in 2023 ranked top 10 in both yards per rush as well as pressure rate, and they return all five of their starters for this season, including what should hopefully be a healthy version of Braden Smith at right tackle.
Of course, all eyes will be on Anthony Richardson and much of the attention this offseason was on putting added playmaking around him, which the Colts did by selecting wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in the second round of the NFL draft.
However, as GM Chris Ballard mentioned, consistent success for Richardson, and therefore the offense as a whole, starts with the play up front.
“Block and protect,” said Ballard. Just look through the league, just look through the playoff teams and they all can block and protect. I think that’s critical. So that’s one.
“I remember Andrew (Luck) used to tell me all the time, ‘Chris, let’s get me protected. Give me guys who can catch it and get to the right spot, and I’ll make the rest work.’ Most of the good ones that’s how they roll. Do you want the superstar out there? Absolutely. But protection, to me, is always first and foremost.”
Here is where the Colts’ offensive line unit ranks among the rest of the NFL:
Charles Cross, Laken Tomlinson, Nick Harris, Anthony Bradford, Abraham Lucas
Paris Johnson Jr., Isaiah Adams, Hjalte Froholdt, Will Hernandez, Jonah Williams
Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor, John Michael Schmitz, Jon Runyan, Evan Neal
Laremy Tunsil, Juice Scruggs, Jarrett Patterson, Shaq Mason, Tytus Howard
Cam Robinson, Ezra Cleveland, Mitch Morse, Brandon Scherff, Anton Harrison
Taliese Fuaga, Nick Saldiveri, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Trevor Penning
Terron Armstead, Isaiah Wynn, Aaron Brewer, Robert Jones, Austin Jackson
Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Brock Hoffman, Zack Martin, Terence Steele
Tristan Wirfs, Graham Barton, Robert Hainsey, Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke
Dion Dawkins, La’el Collins, Connor J. McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown
Ronnie Stanley, Sala Aumavae-Laulu, Tyler Linderbaum, Ben Cleveland, Patrick Mekari
Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, James Daniels, Troy Fautanu
Christian Darrisaw, Dalton Risner, Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram, Brian O’Neill
Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Jon Feliciano, Colton McKivitz
Cornelius Lucas, Nick Allegretti, Tyler Biadasz, Sam Cosmi, Andrew Wylie
AJ Jackson, Jonah Jackson, Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson, Rob Havenstein
Caedan Wallace, Cole Strange, David Andrews, Sidy Sow, Michael Onwenu
Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Jamaree Salyer, Joe Alt
Kolton Miller, Dylan Parham, Andre James, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Delmar Glaze
Orlando Brown, Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, Trent Brown
Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton
J.C. Latham, Peter Skoronski, Lloyd Cushenberry, Daniel Brunskill, Dillon Radunz
Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton, Nate Davis, Darnell Wright
Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jordan Morgan, Zach Tom
Wanya Morris, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor
Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Sam Mustipher, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey
Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cameron Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson
Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Braden Smith
Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary
Tyron Smith, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Morgan Moses
Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin
Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, Frank Ragnow, Kevin Zeitler, Penei Sewell