The Indianapolis Colts fell just short of the NFL playoffs in 2024, finishing with a 9-8 record in their first season under rookie head coach Shane Steichen.
Although they missed the playoffs, many consider Indy’s season a success. Many experts did not expect them to have a winning record, let alone compete for the AFC South title. Steichen looks to be a star in the making as a head coach, and rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson displayed electric potential before injury cut his season short. While there is still work to do, the Colts are excited for 2024 and beyond.
According to the grades from Pro Football Focus, numerous players performed at a high level on offense for the Colts this year. Let’s dissect the five players who graded the highest for the Colts during the 2023 season.
Note: The player must have played at least 25% of the snaps to be eligible.
While injuries forced him to miss seven games, Braden Smith was one of the best players on the field whenever he suited up in 2023. The right tackle was a major difference-maker for the Colts and proved he deserves to be mentioned among the league’s elite at his position.
Smith ranks as the highest-graded player on the Colts’ offense in 2023, finishing with an overall grade of 83.3. Smith scored an elite 90.1 run blocking grade on the season, easily the best mark by any Colt and ranking second in the NFL among tackles in that category. His 71.0 pass blocking grade may seem low, but Smith allowed just 14 pressures on the season and did not allow a single sack.
Smith’s impressive season was noticed by the graders at PFF, who ranked him as the No.5 offensive tackle in the NFL in 2023. While some fans may have been ready to move on from Smith due to his injuries, there is no chance the Colts part ways with one of the most effective tackles in the league because he was banged up for a year. Smith will be a cornerstone for the Colts for the foreseeable future.
Smith was not the only offensive tackle for the Colts with an impressive 2023. Bernhard Raimann burst onto the scene in his sophomore season, giving the Colts a legitimate protector of Richardson’s blindside for years to come.
Raimann was the second-highest-graded offensive player for the Colts in 2023, with an overall grade of 82.3. Raimann led the Colts in pass blocking, with a grade of 80.6 after allowing four sacks and only 35 pressures in 620 pass blocking snaps. His 74.6 run blocking grade ranked third on the Colts, as Raimann opened up holes for the Colts’ running backs.
After finishing the season as the No.8 ranked tackle in the NFL, Raimann has asserted himself as the Colts’ franchise left tackle. As he enters his third season, Raimann may just be getting started.
It was another year without consistent quarterback play for the Colts. Yet Michael Pittman Jr. continued to produce at a high level, taking his game up a notch in Shane Steichen’s offense. Pittman racked up 109 catches for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.
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Pittman’s career year resulted in the wide receiver being the Colts’ third-highest-graded offensive player, with an overall grade of 77.7. The Colts’ WR1 led the team with an 80.0 receiving grade after catching 41 more passes than anyone on the team. Pittman’s elite 89.2 drop grade points to the sure-handedness he displayed
Pittman has earned himself a massive contract this offseason as he prepares to enter free agency. The Colts have prioritized retaining him and want to ensure Pittman stays in Indy long-term.
The offensive line was an obvious strength of the Colts this season, claiming three of the top five highest-graded spots. After a down year in 2022, Ryan Kelly proved he can still play at a very high level.
Kelly finished as the Colts’ fourth-highest-graded offensive player of 2023, with an overall grade of 77.2. His 78.3 pass blocking grade ranked fourth on the Colts but was the top grade for all centers in the NFL. Kelly also showed out in the run game, ranking second on the Colts with a 75.2 run blocking grade.
Overall, Kelly ranked as the No.8 center in the NFL. Kelly may be the oldest player on the Colts’ roster, but he is showing no signs of slowing down and remains a Pro Bowl-level center.
Rounding out the top five is a player the Colts expect will be one of their top playmakers in 2024 and beyond. Jonathan Taylor returned from a pair of injuries and a contract dispute to show why he is still considered amongst the upper echelon of running backs. The $42 million man rushed for 741 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games this season.
Taylor was the fifth-highest-graded offensive player on the Colts in 2023, with an overall grade of 74.9. Taylor’s 75.0 rushing grade led the Colts as he picked up 42 first downs and averaged 3.12 yards after contact. His 63.8 receiving grade also led all eligible Colts’ running backs, with Taylor totaling 19 catches for 153 yards.
Taylor’s season-long totals were down due to missing seven games in 2023. However, if his 188-yard performance in the season-finale was any indication, Taylor is poised for a monster year in 2024.
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