ESPN Bet has set projected win totals for all 32 teams, including the Indianapolis Colts. So in early May, where do the Colts rank?
For the Colts specifically, that mark is set at 8.5 wins, which is tied for the seventh-best total in the AFC with Cleveland, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, and the Los Angeles Chargers. At 9.5 wins, the Houston Texans have the highest projected total in the AFC South.
On paper, this is a Colts team that should be poised for a big jump in 2024. They are coming off an encouraging 9-8 season under then-first-year head coach Shane Steichen, barely missing out on the playoffs. Continuity on both offense and defense this offseason, coupled with a hopeful Year 2 leap under Steichen, along with the return of Anthony Richardson and the addition of Adonai Mitchell, will all be important elements in getting the Colts beyond that 8.5 win total and into the playoffs.
Here is that full list of projected win total rankings, from worst to first, and where the Colts stand overall across the NFL: