The Indianapolis Colts are in a bit of a pickle. With a shoddy defense and QB Anthony Richardson struggling to develop, where do they go from here? However, their roster still has some good players. Here are the top five most important players for the Colts.
5. Michael Pittman Jr., WR
Pittman Jr. struggled in 2024 due to poor QB play, but his talent is unquestionable. His 2023 season – in which he racked up 1,152 yards on 109 receptions – speaks to his ability to be a great NFL possession receiver.
4. DeForest Buckner, DT
At age 31, Buckner is still one of the most important players for the Colts on either side of the ball. His disruptive play on the inside of the defense helps the other Colt defenders make plays in the run game, and he posted 6.5 sacks in 12 games last season.
3. Jonathan Taylor, RB
Taylor is a dynamic running back who provides big-play potential out of the backfield. While he had an inconsistent year in 2024, so did the entire Colts offense. Taylor is one of the better running backs in the NFL and will be a key part of Indy’s plans going forward.
2. Bernhard Raimann, OT
The Austrian has quietly emerged as one of the NFL’s best-left tackles. PFF graded him as the league’s eighth-best tackle in the league in 2024, and Raimann was inside the top 15 in both run blocking and pass blocking.
1. Quenton Nelson, G
Nelson has been one of the NFL’s top linemen since entering the league in 2018. Excellent in both the run and pass game, Nelson is a six-time Pro Bowler for a reason. The Colts would be far worse upfront without him.
