Do the Colts have a brighter future than the Chiefs?

A recent ranking of the NFL teams best set for the future features the Colts ahead of both the Rams and Chiefs.

Over at Bleacher Report, writer Chris Roling put together a list of the 10 NFL teams “best set up for the future.” It’s a look at the teams with the most young talent, with dynamic quarterbacks, with smart leadership in place, and a decent financial picture.

It’s not surprising at all that the Kansas City Chiefs were among the top teams listed. The Chiefs came within a couple plays of making the Super Bowl and upsetting the New England Patriots in the process, and they have the reigning NFL MVP who just so happens to be all of 23-years-old. Even with an abysmal defense last season, the Chiefs were contenders.

Now the Chiefs have completely reconstructed their defense with a dynamic new safety tandem in place on the back side and Frank Clark as the feared pass rusher on the front. They’ve also bolstered the offense with the addition of wideout Mecole Hardman in the second round of the draft and a competitive backfield with Carlos Hyde and Darwin Thompson joining Damien Williams and Darrel Williams.

Alongside the Chiefs at No. 3, it’s understandable to see the L.A. Rams at No. 2 overall. The Rams made the Super Bowl and boast Jared Goff at quarterback, another bright young star. They’re also loaded with top-shelf talent at key positions, from Aaron Donald in the middle of the defensive front to Brandin Cooks at wideout.

However, sitting at No. 1, the Chiefs and Rams are both trailing a very interesting choice by Roling: the Indianapolis Colts. Certainly the Colts have one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in Andrew Luck. They also enjoyed a nice run last season to the playoffs after starting the season with a miserable 1-5 record. They also toppled their rivals, the Houston Texans, in the first round of the playoffs.

From there, they’ve built a nice young offensive line to go with a burgeoning defense anchored by All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard. If Malik Hooker can stay healthy and grow into a leader in the secondary, the Colts should only get better with more experience and the lessons learned as a team under Frank Reich.

There’s nothing wrong at all with the inclusion of the Colts in the Top 10. There is something wrong, however, with the Colts at No. 1.

The reality is that the Colts rolled over for the Chiefs in the playoffs early in a game that was never close. The Colts also have a quarterback who has missed complete seasons due to injury who is getting ready to turn 30. The Colts won a nice stretch of games to make the playoffs, yes, but have they completely turned the corner from the miserable roster that was at the bottom of the standings in October?

Colts fans should be thrilled with the patient work of Chris Ballard as a general manager to be sure, but the idea of the Colts as one of the NFL’s top contenders is completely unfounded on the field. It’s an offseason reach intended to be different by projecting the best possible scenario at a number of positions for Indy. Simply put, the Colts are good but not that good—at least not yet.