According to multiple ESPN contributors, the Indianapolis Colts come in at 19th overall in ESPN’s 2026 NFL ‘way-too-early’ power rankings right now:
19. Indianapolis Colts
Offseason in three words: Running it back
The Colts are doubling down after their hot start to 2025, retaining coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard while making plans to re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones. Keeping the leadership was unpopular among some Colts fans, but Indianapolis is leaning into the decisions that had it among the top teams in the league before a series of late-season injuries. Still, it’s an imperfect plan. Jones’ long Achilles injury rehab looms over it all. Plus, Indy will need to bolster its defensive front seven and also make a pivotal free agency decision on wide receiver Alec Pierce. — Stephen Holder
With the NFL consisting of 32 teams, it means that in 2026, the Colts are projected to be a little lower than league average, and specifically, worse than two of their two AFC South rivals: the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, both of whom are currently ranked at 9th and 13th respectively. The Colts are significantly ranked better than the Tennessee Titans; however, who are ranked further down the list at 27th overall.
Now, as we’ve seen, a lot can change between now and the start of next season with several months to go.
For instance, the Colts don’t even have a starting quarterback (i.e., Daniel Jones) locked in and face some upcoming decisions and challenges to make re-signing other key pending free agents such as wide receiver Alec Pierce, safety Nick Cross, right tackle Braden Smith, defensive ends Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam, and linebacker Germaine Pratt among others.
That being said, with Jones and Pierce as their projected free agent priorities, with the exception of potentially adding an impact free agent edge rusher, the Colts are projected to largely ‘run it back’—especially without a 2026 first round pick, having dealt it in a trade deadline package for prized cornerback Sauce Gardner.
Further, these projected power rankings are far from an exact science. As we saw last season, when the Colts were consistently projected among the league’s bottom feeders, yet quickly ascended into being one of the NFL’s best teams, once sitting at 8-2 and atop the entire AFC, before critical injuries derailed their promising campaign.
However, they sometimes make for a great early offseason talking point to debate, argue, and converse!
What do you think, Colts fans?
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