ClutchPoints
There are few ways to view the Indianapolis Colts’ 2024 campaign as anything short of a disappointment. Anthony Richardson failed to convince anybody he is the rightful franchise quarterback, leading waves of inconsistency resulting in an 8-9 year. The Colts have already admitted they will make a host of changes over the 2025 NFL offseason with head coach Shane Steichen’s leash as short as it has ever been.
While Steichen will return, the Colts already made one major personnel change in the offseason. Steichen fired defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and replaced him with Lou Anarumo, who worked in the same role with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2019 to 2024. Anarumo will be expected to guide the lost unit to an immediate improvement.
The primary focus of the 2025 NFL offseason will still be on the offense, where the Colts will continue to hone in on Richardson’s development. Considering where he currently stands with the organization, 2025 could be his final chance to prove himself worthy of building a team around. Despite taking him with the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, Indianapolis is already wary of Richardson’s potential after he posted one of the most inefficient passing seasons in NFL history.
General manager Chris Ballard does not have a full rebuild ahead of him but is well aware his own job could be on the line ahead of his eighth season with the team. The Colts enter the 2025 NFL offseason with just over $28 million in cap space, forcing them to potentially begin narrowing a list of cut candidates to give them more flexibility.
No player had a stranger ending to the 2024 season than Braden Smith did. After starting the first 12 games of the year, Smith landed on the non-football injury, NFI, list for undisclosed personal reasons. The true reason behind his absence could be a variety of reasons but regardless, Smith’s standing with the team remains unclear.
When Smith is on the field, he has been one of the most consistent members of the Colts offensive line. However, the $70 million extension he signed in 2021 makes him the second-highest-paid player on the team, behind star guard Quenton Nelson. Ahead of his age-29 season, Smith has been solid, but has yet to make a Pro Bowl roster and is nothing close to the dominant, game-changing force he is being paid to be.
More than anything, Smith’s future will likely depend on the status of his personal issues. But with Will Fries, Wesley French and Antonio Mafi contracted through 2025, the Colts do not have a shortage of young talent at guard. Even re-signing veteran Mark Glowinski to return as the starter in place of Smith would be a reasonable decision that would save nearly $15 million in cap space.
If there is one surplus the Colts have on their roster, it is at tight end. Indianapolis ended 2024 with four tight ends on its active roster,...
