Despite the impressive offseason moves made by other AFC South teams, the Indianapolis Colts have the ability to win the division in 2024.
In 2024, the Indianapolis Colts are capable of winning the AFC South. On both sides of the football, they have an abundance of quality. Additionally, despite playing without injured quarterback Anthony Richardson last season, they came very close to winning the division.
Rivals in the AFC South, such as the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans, have made significant offseason changes. The Texans signed defensive end Danielle Hunter and acquired running back Joe Mixon via trade. In 2023, Mixon recorded a 1,000-yard rushing season, and Hunter recorded a career-high 16.5 sacks.
Derrick Henry left Tennessee, but they have added a number of players. Impact players like Calvin Ridley, L’Jarius Sneed, and Tony Pollard have been added to their roster.
On the other hand, not much has been said about the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their biggest decision was to sign wide receiver Gabe Davis.
The Colts, meanwhile, chose to “run-it-back” by re-signing the majority of their important free agents. They brought back players like Grover Stewart, Michael Pittman Jr., and Kenny Moore II but lost Gardner Minshew and Zack Moss. Even though the Colts haven’t made as much of an impact as the Texans and Titans, don’t write them out.
Reasons the Indianapolis Colts Can Win the AFC South in 2019–20: A Strong Defense
The Colts’ defense isn’t the best, but it’s not the worst either. Since 2020, one of the best defensive inside tandems in the league has been DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. It was a wise move to sign free agent Raekwon Davis because he can provide a break for Buckner and Stewart.
The quarterback can be pursued by the Colts defense. In 2023, their 51 sacks were the fifth-most. With 9.5 sacks, defensive end Samson Ebukam took the lead.
However, Indianapolis’ secondary requirements have improved. Both Kenny Moore II and JuJu Brents are good players on the team. However, this offseason, the team needs to add additional talent. The Colts will be far better positioned to win the AFC South if they can add a solid veteran cornerback and keep safety Julian Blackmon.
Potential Explosive Offense
In the modern NFL, having a great quarterback is a prerequisite for success. Is the quarterback for the Colts a top player? It’s conceivable, but no one is certain yet. Just four regular-season games have been played by Anthony Richardson. His debut year was marred by an injury to his right shoulder.
For the Colts’ benefit, Richardson will be back on the field in 2024. I hope he can continue to be well for the entire year. There’s a chance he can have a spectacular comeback season. Indianapolis may be a scary team if that is the case.
Jonathan Taylor remains a member of the team. When healthy, the 2021 rushing champion is unquestionably among the finest running backs.
Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, and Michael Pittman Jr. make up an underappreciated wide receiving trio. Indianapolis may be entertaining to watch if the Colts are able to add an explosive pass-catcher to the roster, such as Brian Thomas Jr. of LSU or Brock Bowers of Georgia.
The Colts’ last AFC South championship was in 2014. Indeed, that did happen a very long time ago. However, don’t write them off.