Anthony Richardson, along with Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., and others could give the Indianapolis Colts one of the NFL’s top offenses next season. Richardson missed most of his rookie year after suffering a shoulder injury. Backup Gardner Minshew took over and nearly got the team into the playoffs.
Richardson will return to the field in 2024. The former fourth-overall pick is one of the league’s most athletic quarterbacks. Barring injury, he’s a threat to rush for 1,000 yards and earn NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors.
Although the Colts missed the playoffs last season, they still possessed a top-10 scoring offense. First-year head coach Shane Steichen deserves a lot of credit for that. He’s absolutely an offensive guru.
Offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. needs some recognition as well. His unit finished the season ranked third in the league by PFF. Only the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions had a higher ranking. Having a superb offensive line, of course, is certainly important if you want to have success in the NFL.
Will Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts Feature an Elite Offense in 2024?
Zack Moss Left, but Jonathan Taylor is Still There
Zack Moss is coming off the best season of his career. He led the Colts in rushing yards (794) with five touchdowns. The running back also caught 27 passes for 192 yards and two TDs. However, he left Indy and signed a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason.
Moss and Jonathan Taylor were a terrific one-two punch last season. They became the first Colts duo since 2008 (Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes) to each rush for over 500 yards.
While Moss is out of the picture, Taylor is still around. The 2021 rushing champ is one of the league’s best running backs when healthy.
If Taylor, who missed seven games last season, can dodge the injury bug and have a bounce-back year, the Colts can boast an elite offense. Backups like Evan Hull, Trey Sermon, and Tyler Goodson could also be productive, playing behind Taylor and replacing Moss. Throw in Anthony Richardson and the Colts rushing attack could be extremely difficult to stop.
The Colts Might Draft an Explosive Pass-Catcher
As of right now, the Indianapolis Colts own the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Selecting a cornerback would make sense, but perhaps a pass-catcher is the route they need to go.
Who should the Colts draft? There has been plenty of talk about the team trading up to land Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. He’s considered the best wideout prospect in the draft and, of course, his father, Marvin Harrison is a Colts legend.
However, Indianapolis would have to give up an array of picks in such a deal. Perhaps staying at No. 15 is the smarter choice.
Georgia tight end Brock Bowers may wind up falling to the Colts. Taking a wide receiver like Texas’ Xavier Worthy or LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. could also be a good decision. Any of those pass-catchers, teamed with holdovers Michael Pittman Jr., who was re-signed this offseason, and Josh Downs, gives Anthony Richardson a slew of great offensive weapons to throw to.
Watch: Xavier Worthy Film Study
Main Photo Credit: Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
