In a recent interview on The Rich Eisen Show, Colts General Manager Chris Ballard spoke about the likelihood of selecting wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr with their first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. By all accounts, Harrison Jr. is considered the best wide receiver in the draft. However, his name keeps getting mentioned in the same breath as the Colts because his father is former Colt wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr.
Marvin Harrison Sr. played 13 seasons for the Indianapolis Colts and is in the Colts Ring of Honor. He helped the team win their second Super Bowl in franchise history. He is also one of the best Colts wide receivers of all time. Naturally, if anyone is going to be his successor, it would be his son. Unfortunately, though, Chris Ballard shut that narrative down as he called it “fantasy land” to trade up from the 15th spot into the the top five.
Unfortunately, the best wide receiver in the NFL Draft is an unlikely pick for the Colts at 15. Therefore, who else could Indy select as another offensive weapon for Anthony Richardson?
Likely Candidates at Wide Receiver for the Colts in the NFL Draft
Brock Bowers, Georgia
Early in the 2024 offseason, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com compiled his first mock draft. Within that mock draft, he listed the Colts as the team to select tight end Brock Bowers in the first round. This created a lot of buzz and optimism that the Colts had a chance to select Bowers. He is the best tight end in the NFL Draft. This optimism is still going strong and since then, other mock drafts have listed Bowers going 15th overall. The Colts could use more weapons at receiver, and Bowers fits the mold of being an explosive offensive playmaker. It was reported on March 1st that Bowers had a formal meeting with the Colts during his NFL Scouting Combine.
Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Another intriguing name swirling around is wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. who has also been projected to go 15 overall to the Colts in several mock drafts. He is not the best receiver in the draft, but he is within the top five best with tremendous talent. Therefore, he would be a likely candidate for the Colts to select with the 15th overall pick. Adding his abilities with Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, the Colts would have a skillful quartet of wide receivers.
Ricky Pearsall, Florida
The one thing that makes a quarterback and wide receiver duo explosive is familiarity. During his first year with the Florida Gators in 2022, Ricky Pearsall’s quarterback was Anthony Richardson. In an interview with Jake Arthur from Locked on Colts, Pearsall mentioned that he and Richardson have kept in touch since their days in Florida. He also stated that it would be “really special” to be his teammate again.
Pearsall is not projected to go into the first round. He is, however, likely to be a solid day-two pick for many teams. If the Colts decide to go defense with their first pick in the NFL Draft, there would be a good chance they would go with the receiver route in the second or third round. Pearsall would be an exceptional addition in the slot to second-year slot receiver Josh Downs.
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