Colts Given Realistic, Effective To-Do List
· Yahoo Sports
The Indianapolis Colts' offseason has focused on immediate success while attempting to recapture the momentum they had in the first half of last season.
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They re-signed quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce to try and maintain the explosiveness in their passing game. They got younger on the defensive line and remade their linebacker group in an effort to improve the defense.
However, there are still some big questions remaining with the Colts that can still be addressed before the 2026 season begins.
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report assigned a to-do list to each NFL team, and his items for the Colts remain realistic.
"The Indianapolis Colts sit at an organizational crossroads," Sobleski said. "Another failed season likely signals the end of the current regime. Or, the team can look like the one that started the 2025 campaign."
Here were the three items Sobleski said the Colts should still attempt to accomplish:
Sep 13, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Indianapolis Colts offensive guard Quenton Nelson (right) guards Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Abry Jones (left) during the second half at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports"Extend contracts of guard Quenton Nelson, wide receiver Josh Downs."
"As of now, the franchise can only operate based on what it knows. It knows that Nelson and Downs are quality players who need to remain on the roster. Those two are outstanding talents and deserve contract extensions. The same can be said of DeForest Buckner and Jonathan Taylor, who are also on the last year of their deals, but those conversations are far more involved either due to age, injury history, or positional value."
The Colts have a couple of significant contract extensions to hammer out, and it would be wise to get ahead of them before things get complicated next offseason as the contracts near their expiration.
READ MORE: Colts: Predicting 53-Man Roster After Mandatory Minicamp
Quenton Nelson should be a Colts lifer as he continues his eventual Hall-of-Fame career. He reset the guard market when he signed his last contract extension in 2022, and it's time to do it again. His value is unlikely to change, as he's already established himself among the league's elite.
Wide receiver Josh Downs, on the other hand, is a little more complicated. He is certainly a player you'd like to retain, but isn't necessarily critical to the team's future, which could cause the Colts to wait out the season. The Colts have seen a similar situation play out recently, though, as they waited to re-sign fellow receiver Alec Pierce and his value throughout the season increased greatly. If the Colts want to retain Downs for cheaper and not have two enormous receiver contracts on the books, they get the deal done soon.
Jun 9, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (5) participates in a drill during minicamp at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images"Trade quarterback Anthony Richardson."
"The front office also knows Richardson isn't the team's quarterback of the future and should be dealt for whatever it can get."
The Colts are in an odd situation where quarterback Anthony Richardson asked for a trade in February, but they've been unable to deal him for anything they deem reasonable, so he's still with the team, competing for the QB2 role.
As Sobleski points out, the Colts know Richardson isn't their quarterback of the future, and he asked to be traded. However, he's now in a position to compete for a meaningful role against a player that the Colts know will be with the team in 2026, Riley Leonard.
READ MORE: Colts One of Most Likely to End Playoff Drought?
If Richardson remains healthy throughout training camp and the preseason and performs reasonably well, the Colts might see increased interest from other teams.
Whether the Colts acknowledge it or not, Richardson's presence with the team while on the trade block does present some level of distraction.
Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (42) sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images"Add to pass-rush through free-agent signing."
"As the offseason continues, the Colts accomplished most of their primary goals except for adding a legitimate presence off the edge. After missing out on Trey Hendrickson, general manager Chris Ballard quickly pivoted to signing Arden Key and Micheal Clemons. However, the addition of a Joey Bosa or Jadeveon Clowney can provide much-needed help."
The Colts' lack of adding an impact pass rusher does seem like a missing piece to the offseason.
They signed free agents Arden Key and Micheal Clemons to replace Samson Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis, but they missed out on signing Trey Hendrickson to replace Kwity Paye.
READ MORE: Colts' Offensive 'Triplets' Have Proving To Do
Afterward, the Colts declared second-year player Jaylahn Tuimoloau and Key to compete for Paye's former starting role opposite Laiatu Latu. However, Key has been a rotational piece throughout his career, and Tuimoloau only played 215 snaps last year as a rookie.
Through OTAs and minicamp, Key has seen the majority of the reps as the starter, which makes it seem as if their plan at defensive end either failed, or is incomplete.
There aren't any stars on the free-agent market, but players like Jadeveon Clowney, Joey Bosa, or Bryce Huff can help. Otherwise, some players with trade rumors around them are Josh Sweat of the Arizona Cardinals, Kayvon Thibodeaux of the New York Giants, and Alex Highsmith of the Pittsburgh Steelers.