Each NFL season brings opportunities for players to prove something to the doubters they have outside of the organization.
The Indianapolis Colts are no different.
Whether it's proving they can take the next step in their development or that they can stay healthy after injuries dominated the narrative, several Colts have something to prove going into the new campaign.
For the 2024 season, here are five players on the Colts who are looking to demonstrate that they do have the ability to be starters in the league:
Colts players with something to prove in 2024
EDGE Kwity Paye
With the Colts selecting Laiatu Latu with their first-round pick in this year’s NFL draft, the pressure is on Paye to take his game to the next level in 2024. Despite the pick of Latu, Indianapolis still elected to exercise the fifth-year option on Paye’s rookie contract showing they still believe that he can reach his ceiling.
He’s been excellent as a run defender but Paye needs to improve on getting after the quarterback. He has yet to earn double-digit sacks but is coming off a season where he finished with a career-high eight-and-a-half sacks.
Paye will enter training camp as a starter but expect a position battle to unfold as Latu and Dayo Odeyingbo push for a starting role later this summer.
TE Jelani Woods
Indianapolis has a deep tight end room that features players with their own skill sets but the unicorn is Woods. After glimpses into the type of weapon he can be in an offense during his rookie season in 2022, it feels that was ages ago with him missing the entire 2023 season due to hamstring injuries.
The first step for Woods is to prove that his health issues are behind him. Then he has to show the coaching staff who never got a true feel for him last year because of his hamstrings that he can be a threat in the passing attack. It does sound like Woods has impressed Shane Steichen during OTAs.
“He’s been making a ton of plays,” Steichen said this offseason. “A big-body tight end that can run the vertical routes, run the shallows, run the deep cross. It’s awesome to see. Obviously, he’s a matchup for a defense that they have to be prepared for.”
If Woods can deliver on his potential he will help elevate the Indy passing attack this season.
S Nick Cross
Perhaps the most important player on this list for the Colts to prove something in 2024 is Cross. The third-year safety is entering a crucial season in his young career as he has an opportunity to showcase he has what it takes to be a starting-caliber safety.
As of now, Chris Ballard has passed on signing a veteran free agent free safety which has set up a competition between Cross and Rodney Thomas II in training camp for the starting job. Cross has shown the potential to be a playmaker on the backend of the defense but he needs to be more consistent with his play on the field and improve his communication within the secondary.
A breakout from Cross in his Year 3 would be vital to the success of the Indy defense this season if they continue to pass on bringing a veteran into the secondary.
WR Alec Pierce
Like Kwity Paye, the heat is on Pierce to deliver in his Year 3 after the Colts selected Adonai Mitchell. The expectation for Indy’s passing attack is that we will see more of the deep ball with Anthony Richardson returning and having Joe Flacco as the backup if AR does have to miss any time.
His role within the offense should be more on display in 2024 by having quarterbacks in the lineup who can utilize his skill set. Pierce has averaged 15.2 yards per reception in his career. He saw an uptick in his first season under Shane Steichen when he averaged 16.1 yards per reception in 2023.
For the Colts to become a more explosive offense through the air they will need Pierce to prove that he isn’t an afterthought following the selection of Mitchell and that he can be a deep threat Steichen can lean on throughout the year.
TE Kylen Granson
Jelani Woods isn’t the only tight end for the Colts with something to prove in 2024. Granson is entering the final year of his rookie contract so this season he will be looking to show he can be a team’s No. 1 tight end or at least earn a solid payday in next year’s offseason.
In each of the last two seasons, Granson has finished with at least 30 receptions, 300 receiving yards, and 17 receiving first downs. He was used more as a deeper receiving threat under Shane Steichen last season. He averaged 12.3 yards per reception in 2023.
As I mentioned, it is a deep position group at tight end so Granson has to prove himself to keep himself high up on the pecking order as the coaching staff figures out how to rotate the players within the offense.
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