For the last two seasons, there has been a clamor for the Indianapolis Colts to add a big-name wide receiver. Now that the Colts have a quarterback of the future, that noise is getting louder, but there is no need to panic just yet. Indy is young all across its roster and in one particular area, they are very young at wide receiver. As a matter of fact, not one of their wide receivers is over the age of 28. However, youth is only a good thing if that youth is productive, and for the Colts, their guys possess just that.
The Indianapolis Colts wide receiver squad is better than people think and there are three key players that prove this to be true.
The Indianapolis Colts Have an Underrated Receiver Group
Michael Pittman Jr.
The Indianapolis Colts top wide receiver was without a doubt Michael Pittman Jr. Coming off of the best season of his career, he posted 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns. While the touchdown count was not very high, his production was elite for backup quarterback, Gardner Minshew.
Pittman also became quite the security blanket for his quarterback and was a receiver that could be counted on down the stretch. Pittman will be a free agent in the offseason, so assuming the Colts bring him back, he will be a key asset to the wide receiver squad and will be crucial to the development of Anthony Richardson.
Alec Pierce
The Colts drafted Alec Pierce in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and was their first pick in that draft. In year two, Pierce put up slightly lower numbers, but with his talent, his production should’ve and could’ve been higher.
In 2023, he finished with only 32 receptions on 65 targets for 514 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 16.1 yards per reception. What makes these numbers so disappointing is the misuse of his talent. Pierce is without a doubt a deep threat, but was only targeted deep 19 times. For a wide receiver whose average target distance was 14.9, it was odd that he did not get the ball more often down the field.
It should be noted that Pierce was playing with Minshew as his quarterback for the vast majority of the season and Minshew is not one to let the ball air out. Richardson, on the other hand, has a canon and did display comfortability with throwing deep. If this Colts offense can utilize the explosive capability of Pierce, good things will happen. Couple this with Richardson’s velocity and the sky is the limit.
Josh Downs
The Colts big offensive breakout player was certainly rookie wide receiver, Josh Downs. Primarily used in the slot, Downs became a key factor in this offense. He was always making plays whenever he got the ball into his hands.
Downs finished the 2023 season with 68 receptions for 771 yards and two touchdowns, but it was his overall efficiency that made him so spectacular. He ranked 10th in win rate vs man (47.2%) and was winning 57.6% of the time vs zone. For the Colts to have a slot receiver that is this productive will be huge for Richardson’s development. It will also be huge for the explosive capability of this offense.
The Indianapolis Colts have three productive wide receivers that can make plays and be explosive for this offense. If they do not choose to pick a big name this offseason, they will be just fine with production. They also have some depth pieces that can make plays. The Colts have offseason needs but a big-name wide receiver is not one of them.
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