The regular NFL season has ended, and the Indianapolis Colts have descended from the best team in the league during week nine to a middle of the pack team who have fallen short of the playoffs once again.
Quarterback Daniel Jones started off the season strong and was even in the MVP race at the time. However, he suffered an Achilles tear and fans suspect that injury is what sent the Colts downhill.
The Colts’ front office made a rather interesting decision and picked up the retired Phillip Rivers to fill the quarterback position instead of playing Riley Leonard or Anthony Richardson, two young talents who can both pass the football and rush. Rivers played okay, but frankly, a grandfather who was retired can only do so much for a football team.
The Colts lost seven games in a row and will not get a first round draft pick this offseason, since they traded it for cornerback Sauce Gardner when they were still in pursuit of the playoffs and Super Bowl in the first half of the year. There will not be many changes this offseason unless general manager Chris Ballard signs some free agents.
Fans have been demanding for Ballard to be fired for the past few seasons, claiming he does not make enough risky moves and hardly ever enters the trade pool or free agency. Head coach Shane Steichen has also received some negative feedback for how he has handled the development of Richardson, who fans still believe is the guy to save the franchise due to his pure talent, but in reality, he will likely be traded this offseason.
The Indianapolis Colts need a miracle trade this offseason if they want any chance of contending next season. Rivers has retired again and Jones will probably not be re-signed due to his injury and the lack of salary cap space available.
They finished 8-9 and will get the 47th pick in the second round of the draft.