Stampede Blue
NFL Network’s Top 100 list is always part respect, part reputation and part recent production. It is not perfect, but because the list is voted on by players, it gives a decent sense of who is viewed as a top-tier player around the league. Quenton Nelson has already made the 2026 list at No. 99, giving the Colts at least one representative.
The question now is whether anyone else on the roster deserves to join him.
Nelson already being on the list makes sense.
He may not be ranked as high as he was earlier in his career, but he is still one of the best guards in football, still one of the most respected offensive linemen in the league, and still the standard-setter on the Colts’ offensive line. His placement at No. 99 almost feels low, but at least the players got him back on the list.
Taylor should be on the list.
Running backs are always tricky because the position gets judged differently, but Taylor remains one of the best players at his position and is still the engine of the Colts’ offense. When he is healthy and rolling, he changes the way defenses have to play. He is one of the few Colts who can take over a game by himself.
If the list is about the best football players, Taylor belongs.
Gardner, like Taylor, is a also a very easy yes.
He may be new to Indianapolis, but he is one of the best cornerbacks in football and should be ranked higher than any Colts player if the list is based on overall talent and league-wide reputation. Elite outside corners are hard to find, and Gardner has already built the kind of résumé that should make him a Top 100 regular.
Buckner has a strong case, but he is not a lock.
He is still a very good interior defensive lineman and has been one of the Colts’ most important players for years. The issue is that these lists usually reward sack numbers, star power and national visibility. Interior defensive linemen who are not putting up huge pass-rush production can get overlooked, even when their impact is obvious.
Buckner would not be out of place on the list, but he is probably closer to the bubble than a guaranteed spot.
Raimann might be the most underappreciated Colts candidate.
Purely based on play, he has a legitimate argument. He has developed into a high-level left tackle, and that is one of the most valuable positions in football. The problem is name recognition. Offensive linemen already struggle to get noticed, and Raimann does not have the same reputation yet as the bigger names at tackle.
He may deserve Top 100 consideration more than he is likely to receive it.
Latu is probably a year...
