According to CBS Sports Senior NFL Columnist Pete Prisco, According to CBS Sports Senior NFL Columnist Pete Prisco, According to CBS Sports Senior NFL Columnist Pete Prisco,
Horseshoe Heroes
FanSided

Coby Fleener Makes CBS Sports Pete Prisco’s Top 50 NFL Free Agents List

By Luke Schultheis

Dec 6, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) runs after a pass reception against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 45-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) runs after a pass reception against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 45-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

According to CBS Sports Senior NFL Columnist Pete Prisco, Indianapolis Colts soon-to-be free agent tight end Coby Fleener is one of his Top 50 free agents for this year’s offseason:

"46. Coby Fleener, TE, Indianapolis Colts: He’s a pass-catching tight end who hasn’t lived up to the hype. Even so, he has the ability to catch 60 or so passes a season."

While other imminent Colts free agents Jerrell Freeman and Dwayne Allen were shockingly omitted, it was Fleener who was the team’s lone representative on Prisco’s list.

Jan 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) is tackled by Tennessee Titans defensive end Earl Okine (95) at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) is tackled by Tennessee Titans defensive end Earl Okine (95) at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Not to mention, Colts cornerback Greg Toler somehow got mentioned as a free agent, who was “close” to making the Top 50 cut–leading me to believe that Prisco only watches Colts versus Broncos games.

Originally a 2nd round pick of the Colts in 2012, Fleener with his 6’6″ height and rare speed has occasionally shown flashes of his immense receiving potential.

However, he’s been marred by inconsistency.

Specifically, he’s shown a propensity for drops–indicating a lack of concentration and has to get stronger at the point of attack when catching the football.

There’s little chance Fleener will ever be much more than adequate as a blocker, but he has the size and speed to be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. At 6’6″, 251 pounds, he’s too big for safeties, but blessed with speed, he can run away from most linebackers in coverage.

That being said, along with Allen, the Colts tight ends became an afterthought in the offense this past season.

https://horseshoeheroes.com/2015/12/23/what-has-happened-to-colts-tight-ends-dwayne-allen-and-coby-fleener/
Nov 2, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) runs after a catch during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Despite playing a diminished role and being without star quarterback Andrew Luck for 9 games however, Fleener still set a career high in catches with 54 receptions on the season. He also added 491 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns.

Just one season removed from a year in which he amassed 774 receiving yards and 8 receiving touchdowns, Fleener is clearly hoping for a bounceback season next year.

The question is whether that will ultimately be with the Colts however.

Specifically, with increasingly limited cap space and Luck’s mega-extension due, the Colts may not have the luxury of re-signing both of their talented tight ends Fleener and Allen.

Fleener is likely the cheaper and more durable of the team’s tight end tandem, but Allen offers much more versatility as both a receiving option and as a blocker.

No matter the end result, Fleener still figures to be fairly sought after by both the Colts and other NFL teams as a young and talented free agent tight end, who has yet to reach his full NFL potential.

Home/Colts News