Nine Offseason Storylines for the Colts in 2024
The end of an NFL season is always abrupt, especially when it ends with such a stinging feeling.
The Colts experienced plenty of unexpected bright moments in Shane Steichen’s debut season and appear to be on the right track heading forward.
Here are nine storylines for the 2024 offseason:
1. Supporting Anthony Richardson
The development of Anthony Richardson was the largest storyline of the 2023 season, and how the Colts support their franchise quarterback will be the biggest drama of the 2024 offseason. This includes adding weapons, reinforcing any offensive line flaws, and ensuring the defense can function as a supplementary team at the very least.
The most crucial factor, however, is the skill ability surrounding Richardson, particularly the pass catchers. There aren’t many guarantees at the pass catching positions in a Colts future with Richardson. It’s important to cement those while simultaneously keeping an eye out for a huge splash.
2. Gus Bradley Returning?
Gus Bradley has left a lasting impression in a bad light. Shane Steichen should be having nightmares about C.J. Stroud overcoming some significant down and distance chunks on the eventual game-winning drive, and there being no plan/execution to prevent Houston’s sole major threat, Nico Collins. Bradley and Steichen have a history together, but the Colts’ head coach chose to keep the long-time defensive coordinator instead of conducting a comprehensive search for a new defensive coordinator last offseason.
Is it something Steichen would like to look into again during his first full summer as a head coach? Philosophically, the two guys approach their separate units in quite different ways. Bradley has several compelling reasons to be preserved, but there is also plenty of evidence to the contrary. Some may argue that Bradley can only accomplish so much with the resources he has. Regardless, Steichen must closely assess Bradley’s future as he decides how he wants the Colts defense to look under his leadership.
3. Plan For Anthony Richardson’s Rehab/Playing Style
Obviously, this is the case. Richardson is expected to resume throwing in roughly a month, giving him plenty of time to prepare for OTAs, which begin in mid-May. The Colts and Richardson chose surgery for a reason, and it was with the long term in mind. This is something Richardson must remember in the next weeks and months as he prepares for Year Two.
Along with this, Shane Steichen must focus on how he wants Richardson to play quarterback in the future and how the play caller will use discretion, if any, in determining how many runs to crank up for AR each game. There is no simple answer. My thoughts are to reduce, but not remove, those run calls in order to keep Richardson from receiving a higher number of hits during a 17-game season while still having such a unique aspect available in important moments.
4. Franchise Tag Use
Pat McAfee, who was unhappy to be tagged by Ryan Grigson in the 2013 offseason, was the last Colts player to have the franchise tag placed on them. More than a decade later, the Colts’ use of the tag is a serious possibility this offseason. Michael Pittman Jr. is the most obvious name, but he could be a Jonathan Taylor-like holdout.
While you’re waiting for a long-term deal, you can’t count out MPJ. This is the Colts’ first major personnel decision of the offseason, with the tag deadline approaching in early March, approximately two weeks before free agency begins. Again, this offseason has the most potential for the Colts to deploy the franchise tag, retaining one of their free agents on a one-year contract, since McAfee in 2013.
5. Handling Notable Free Agent List
This is without a doubt the most prominent in-house free agent roster the Colts have had in Chris Ballard’s seven years as general manager. Michael Pittman Jr., Kenny Moore, Grover Stewart, Julian Blackmon, Gardner Minshew, and Zack Moss are among others on such a list.
You could make compelling arguments for almost all of those players to return, and each of them would command a sizable market from other teams. The Colts have enough contract space to keep all of these players, but we know how picky Chris Ballard can be about market valuations. Is a Shane Steichen influence changing Ballard’s staunch stance to free agency?
6. Braden Smith, Ryan Kelly Futures
First and foremost, neither of these two offensive line mainstays is a free agency, and both played excellent football this season (when healthy). However, their particular futures raise some concerns. Kelly, 30, is the Colts’ oldest offensive player and is coming off a season in which he had three concussions.
Kelly is under contract through 2024, and the Colts don’t have a clear replacement at center, so that’s something to put on the draft needs list. Smith is one of the team’s most important players, yet he only played in half of the offensive snaps due to various injuries. Smith is being compensated handsomely by the Colts, and for good reason. However, they anticipate playing more than ten games in a season. Is it necessary to restructure Smith’s deal this offseason? In 2023, this offensive line took a step back in the right way, but these two bring a couple of questions with them.
7. Ranking The Needs
Shane Steichen was on the verge of joining Chuck Pagano and Frank Reich as first-year head coaches to make the playoffs. However, those two eras did not continue on the path of postseason success, owing to a lack of personnel in key spots. When it comes to the Colts’ 2024 needs, I start with a speed edge rusher and a wideout. The secondary would be the next tier, with cornerback (nickel?) and safety both on the list.
Tight end should not be overlooked. It also makes sense to have depth along the offensive line and at linebacker. The Colts have more than $70 million in salary room, with a large portion of that presumably going to in-house players. But, with Ballard listening to Steichen, will we see greater exploration of outside free agents?
8. Backup Quarterback Approach
Gardner Minshew is a free agent in 2024, and both parties must make a decision here. Minshew’s return would make sense for the Colts. Minshew can deliver competency in a position of volatility on the wide-ranging, and rather frightening, scale of backup quarterbacks.
He also knows Shane Steichen and has a prior relationship with Anthony Richardson. But does Minshew want to return? Unless Richardson is injured, he has no chance of starting. And Richardson will have one of the NFL’s longest starting quarterback leashes. If Minshew wants to play in his next stop, he should be able to find a more realistic opportunity somewhere.
9. Kwity Paye’s Fifth-Year Option
While Kwity Paye’s 8.5 sacks may suggest otherwise, I do not believe his fifth-year option for the 2025 season should be exercised. Paye did not generate enough consistent pass rush pressure, and the fifth-year option money should go to an experienced, proven upper-echelon pass rusher. Paye has not been that in his three NFL seasons.
Only 8 tackles for loss, 9 total quarterback hits, and 17 pressures provide a more accurate picture of Paye’s lack of edge pop. The Colts must make a decision on Paye’s 2025 team option by May 2nd. If they do not, Paye will be in a contract year the next season. Has Paye truly earned $13.8 million for 2025? No, I say.
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