by Kevin Hickey
The Indianapolis Colts have missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons with narrow misses coming in two of them. The last time the Colts were in the playoffs, Philip Rivers was the quarterback and Frank Reich was about to sign an extension as the head coach at the time.
Now, the Colts have a hopeful future led by young quarterback Anthony Richardson and head coach Shane Steichen. They missed out on the playoffs by one game in 2023, and the AFC South is now loaded with competition from the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Getting back to the playoffs is not an easy task. Here are X moves they can make this offseason to get back to the postseason to end this mini drought:
1) Re-signing Michael Pittman Jr.
The first move the Colts need to make is getting Pittman under contract. Preferably, that would come through a contract extension for the 26-year-old, but the Colts also have the franchise tag in their back pocket. Keeping the WR1 on the team will be vital for the Colts’ chances to have an offense worthy of making the playoffs.
2) Add explosiveness to the passing game
There are several ways the Colts can go about this. They could look toward free agency to add a veteran like Darnell Mooney to the wide receiver room or they could use the No. 15 overall pick on an explosive player like Brian Thomas Jr. or Brock Bowers. Either way, the Colts need more dynamic talent on the roster for Anthony Richardson to work with as he continues to develop.
3) Make a splash at cornerback
Realistically, it’s unlikely to happen. However, the Colts have the cap space and the need to make a splash at the cornerback position. While it’s unlikely the talents of Jaylon Jones or L’Jarius Sneed make it to the market, the Colts should be willing to put on a full-court press in order to sign them. There is promise with Julius Brents and Jaylon Jones, but the Colts could use more talent at the top end of the depth chart.
4) Solidify the safety room
Regardless of whether this is done by re-signing Julian Blackmon or bringing in another veteran in free agency like Antoine Winfield or Xavier McKinney, the Colts need more depth at the back end of the defense to work with Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas II, who likely will be competing for the starting free safety role in 2024.
5) More consistent pass rush
Whether it’s Gus Bradley tweaking his scheme to produce more consistency or whether it’s adding more talent to the defensive line, the Colts must be more consistent in rushing the passer. They may have set a single-season franchise record with 51 sacks, but they still ranked middle of the pack in pressure rate. A more consistent pass rush would certainly help the defense regain its form after an up-and-down campaign.
Originally posted on coltswire.usatoday.com