ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranks Colts ‘playmaking core’ slightly better than league average
09 November 2025, Berlin: American football: NFL professional league, Indianapolis Colts - Atlanta Falcons, main round, main round games, matchday 10, Olympiastadion Berlin. Jonathan Taylor (r, Indianapolis Colts) celebrates after his touchdown with Tyler Warren (Indianapolis Colts). Photo: Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa (Photo by Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images)According to ESPN's Bill Barnwell, the Indianapolis Colts' playmaking core; specifically, their top running back, wide receiver, and tight end collectively rank as slightly above league average-coming in at #14 overall:
14. Indianapolis Colts
2025 rank:16 |2024 rank:22
Even after trading Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts sport above-average or better contributors at all three spots we're considering here. Their playmakers all looked much better in 2025 with better quarterback play, but none made a bigger leap thanAlec Pierce, who finally saw steady deep-ball opportunities throughout the season. Pierce averaged 2.2 yards per route run during his breakout campaign, which was good for 14th in the league among wideouts. I still think there's some potential for Pierce to take another step forward in 2026, whileJosh Downsshould see more market share after the Pittman trade. He has been efficient out of the slot.
There are stars away from wide receiver too.Jonathan Taylorwas an Offensive Player of the Year contender for most of the season before fading down the stretch, generating big plays as both a rusher and receiver by shrugging off and running past tackle attempts. And Tyler Warren was a Swiss Army knife for coach Shane Steichen as a rookie, lining up at just about every conceivable spot on the field and creating havoc for opposing linebackers and defensive coordinators. He was on pace to top 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie before the offense broke down afterDaniel Jonesgothurt.
I'm a little concerned that Pierce is more of a really high-end WR2 than a legitimate WR1 in a very good offense, but if the Colts' wide receivers can hold up their end of the bargain, Taylor and Warren are top-five at their respective spots.
Even though star workhorse Jonathan Taylor faded a bit down the 2025 season's stretch, after initially being a bona fide NFL MVP candidate earlier in the year, he remains a Top 5 running back in the sport overall. Namely, his diminished production later in the season coincided with starting quarterback Daniel Jones's fractured fibula, and ultimately, with the latter's season-ending Achilles injury-which derailed the Colts season entirely.
Still, Taylor rushed for 1,585 rushing yards and a league-leading 18 rushing touchdowns on his 323 carries-en route to Pro Bowl honors for a consecutive season.
Meanwhile, entering a contract year, the 26-year-old Alec Pierce had a breakout season in Indianapolis, cementing himself as one of the league's elite deep threats and his newfound role as the Colts lead wideout.
The Colts rewarded him with what was a historic contract extension earlier this offseason, and the hope is that he'll only continue to grow and blossom into a more well-rounded wide receiver regarding his overall route-running and receiving skill-set. With Pittman Jr. out of the picture following a trade to Pittsburgh, like Tyler Warren below here, Pierce appears poised for a larger receiving role headed into the 2025 campaign.
The hope is that he can continue to be legit #1 wideout, and who knows, maybe even crack the backend of the Top 10 wideouts currently in the NFL league-wide.
Lastly, Tyler Warren, the Colts first round pick from 2025, had a very impressive rookie debut, even earning Pro Bowl honors. Specifically, Warren caught 76 receptions for 817 total receiving yards and 4 rushing touchdowns last year, while adding 1 rushing touchdown on the ground.
Like Taylor, his play dipped a bit in Jones's late season absence, but he's expected to see an even larger role with Pittman Jr.'s departure, as previously denoted. While he's still young at 24-years-old, Warren could crack into the back half of the Top 5 tight ends in the NFL.