INDIANAPOLIS – Chris Ballard mentioned more than once his gratitude for being given another opportunity to return the Indianapolis Colts to relevancy, or prominence if you have lofty expectations.
It was during last week’s post-season wrap-up and the long-time general manager understood his audience consisted of more than a few critics/skeptics.
But nothing compared with the audience Ballard faced after his Colts finished 8-9 and out of the postseason for a fourth straight season and sixth time in his eight years as GM.
It was an audience of one. Owner Jim Irsay.
What were Irsay’s marching orders?
“Fix it,’’ Ballard said. “I mean, you know Mr. Irsay. He wants to win. He does want to win . . . he’s very knowledgeable about the game. One thing I really like about Jim is on game day, you can’t BS in what he’s watching. So, he was direct: ‘Look, Chris, y’all need to win. Y’all need to get this going back in the right direction.’’’
It can’t be driven home hard – or harsh – enough that the franchise is mired in its longest playoff drought in three decades (1988-94). Robert Irsay was still in control. Jim was the NFL’s youngest GM.
Or that it hasn’t won the AFC South in a decade. Here’s a divisional quirk that speaks to the Colts’ lingering mediocrity: they’re the only team that hasn’t finished first or last in the AFC South in 10 straight seasons.
The Colts were involved in a league-high 13 one-score games in 2024 – 8-5 in those games – but don’t let that blur the reality of the situation.
They were 1-7 against teams that reached the postseason and were absolutely humiliated by the 2-13 New York Giants with their playoff hopes at stake.
“Right now, we’re not close,’’ Ballard said. “We’re an 8-9 football team and we’ve got to own that. We’re not good enough.’’
Here are five areas that must be addressed – via veteran free agency, in the April draft – for Ballard and his personnel staff to fix a broken franchise. There are others to be sure, but we’ll stick with five:
QUARTERBACK
*Returning starter: Anthony Richardson.
*What’s up?: Every area of concern takes a backseat to the most influential position in the NFL. If Ballard doesn’t get the quarterback room right, it’s hard to imagine the Colts emerging from the darkness.
Richardson should be viewed as the starter simply because someone needs to take up that spot on the depth chart in mid-January. And Ballard knows it.
“I don’t think we can simply stamp it,’’ he said.
Richardson has missed 17 of 34 games because of injuries and was benched for another two this season. The 15 he’s played – the Colts are 8-7 with him under center, but Richardson has failed to finish three of the wins – have included a collection of highlight plays and frustrating inaccuracy.
It puts too much stress on the rest of the team when the quarterback isn’t making the so-called layups. It’s unsustainable when Richardson is completing a franchise record-low and league-worst 47.7% in 2024, and 50.6% in his first two seasons. The latter is the worst among 40 quarterbacks who have attempted at least 348 passes, by nearly 9.5%.
Maybe an offseason of working on his craft will elevate Richardson from a scattershot QB to one who routinely completes a 6-yarder on first down so it’s second-and-4 and not second-and-10.
Maybe the worst is behind Richardson in terms of injuries, although that would be a ridiculous stance to take. Especially considering the Colts must tap into his dynamic threat as a 6’4″-250-pounder in the run game. His 499 yards in year two despite missing six games is a franchise record for a quarterback.
The Colts will give Richardson another season to develop and mature and prove he understands the gravity of his role as a franchise QB who can lead them back to prominence. But they must be a legitimate Plan B.
That probably won’t be Joe Flacco. If he returns for an 18th NFL season, it likely will be with his fourth team in as many seasons.
By all appearances, this isn’t an offseason to do a serious re-load at the quarterback.
The free-agent market won’t become clear for several weeks, but possibilities might include Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, Daniel Jones, Taylor Heinicke, Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton. Sam Darnold might join the list unless Minnesota retains him with a new deal or the franchise tag. We’re not going to give life to Aaron Rodgers speculation.
“We’ve got to have competition at the position,’’ Ballard said. “Just for one, the fact that competition makes everybody better. And then two, he’s not proven he can play 17 games.’’
CORNERBACK
*Returning starters: Jaylon Jones, JuJu Brents, Kenny Moore II.
*What’s up?: We’ll allow Ballard to answer that.
“We’ve got to get better,’’ he said.
Kenny Moore II re-upped last offseason with a three-year, $30 million contract and remained the one constant at nickel with three interceptions, seven passes defended and four tackles for loss. He’ll turn 30 in August, and we have zero concerns about any type of drop-off.
The outside components are another matter entirely.
JuJu Brents was taken in round 2 of the 2023 round draft with the idea he would solidify one starting spot. The Warren Central H.S. product has missed more time because of injuries (23 of 34 games) than Richardson.
Jaylon Jones has started 27 games since being selected in the 7th round in ’23 and has shown flashes. He had two interceptions and a team-high 12 passes defended last season, but quarterbacks completed 64.7% of their passes when targeting him.
Samuel Womack III was claimed off waivers in late August and was a mixed bag. He might be better suited as Moore’s backup at nickel. Womack had two interceptions and nine passes defended in 17 games, but QBs had four TDs and a 101.3 rating when throwing in his direction.
This is an area that would benefit greatly from a veteran presence on the outside. Remember Xavier Rhodes and Stephon Gilmore?
And we wouldn’t mind if one of the first two picks in the draft added someone capable of being a physical presence in coverage for whomever the Colts chose to replace coordinator Gus Bradley.
TIGHT END
*Returning starters: Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory.
*What’s up?: The unquestioned weak link on offense. The collective numbers were historically bad: 39 receptions, 467 yards and two TDs. The last time Colts tight ends combined for worse stats was in 1994. Kerry Cash had 16 of the group’s 18 catches.
Ballard was more than pleased with the blocking the unit provided, but added, “We didn’t get enough production from them.’’
He lamented the Colts’ “inability to control the middle of the field’’ as well as “really having a receiving target that the defense has to prepare for.’’
Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson become unrestricted free agents in mid-March. Jelani Woods, a promising 2022 third-round pick, has missed the last two seasons with injuries.
The returnees are underwhelming: Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory, who combined for 13 receptions, 138 yards and one touchdown last season.
The April draft might offer instant help in the form of Penn State’s Tyler Warren, Michigan’s Colston Loveland or LSU’s Mason Taylor.
Does Jack Doyle have any remaining eligibility?
SAFETY
*Returning starter: Nick Cross.
*What’s up?: We listed just one starter because the second might relocate in the offseason. That would be Julian Blackmon, a free agent-to-be.
Blackmon remained in Indy with a one-year, $3 million deal last offseason when the free-agent safety market flattened. He probably wants another shot at a better contract than the Colts might offer.
Blackmon tied for the team lead with three interceptions despite playing the bulk of the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder and has seven in the past two seasons. He’ll be missed if he finds the interest elsewhere.
Serious questions followed Cross into the season, but he answered them with his best season: 145 tackles, three interceptions, six tackles for loss and five passes defended in 17 starts. The tackles ranked 9th in the league.
Clearly, Cross needs a ton of help moving forward. Again, we would prefer that help come in the form of a veteran-free agent.
RUNNING BACK
*Returning starter: Jonathan Taylor.
*What’s up?: This has nothing to do with Taylor. He earned a second Pro Bowl berth with 1,431 yards and 11 TDs despite missing three games with an injury to the same right ankle that’s bothered him the past few seasons. Yes, his boneheaded “fumble’’ at Denver was crippling, but the body of work was upper-level. Taylor had eight 100-yard games and rushed for 627 yards and averaged 5.4 per attempt over the final four games.
Ballard must find better than Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson provide. The 2024 season reaffirmed the value of a Zack Moss-type backup.
Taylor averaged a career-best and league-high 21.6 carries per game in 2024 (303), and the Colts will continue to lean on their workhorse. But he remains a liability in pass protection and receiving isn’t a strength.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.