Aug 14, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) reacts after the preseason game at Soldier Field. Chicago Bears defeats the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Number 4: Wide Receiver
With both Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks Colts futures cloudy at best, the Indianapolis Colts are reportedly in the active market for a proven wide receiver.
Perfect Scenario: Insert Brandon Marshall.
The 6’4″, 230 pound wideout is still among the best wide receivers in the game and would provide the Colts with an imposing physical wide receiver that they really haven’t had…well, ever in the team’s history. The team is in desperate need of a possession wideout to pair with big-play wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, one who can consistently move the chains down the field and extend scoring drives.
Their key CFL signing in Duron Carter could be that player in time, but the Colts really need a proven wideout that can be that type of player now, considering that Carter has yet to play a meaningful snap in the NFL. Any wideout that the Colts would draft would take at least 3 years to fully develop according to the general rule of thumb regarding wide receivers, and at this point, the Colts cannot really afford to wait.
While Marshall would require significant draft pick compensation and is still owed quite a bit on his current Chicago Bears contract, at age 30, he still figures to have a handful of highly productive seasons left in him. Any trade, barring its within reason of fair compensation, would seem to be well-worth the initial investment.