The Colts are a team in desperate help at the wide receiver position, but they should cut bait with one of the two outside guys they signed in free agency last year.
Devin Funchess was one of the two big guys that the Colts signed in free agency last season. He, along with the other signee Justin Houston, were supposed to help take this team over the edge and push them into Super Bowl contention. That obviously didn’t happen.
Houston was a fantastic success and looks like a great signing. Funchess, on the other hand, was a massive bust. He only played one game for the Horseshoe after breaking his collarbone in the opener. He never gave the Colts what they signed him for because of some bad luck.
Funchess was only signed to a one-year deal to prove that he could still be an effective receiver. He struggled in Carolina with drops and inconsistent play, so the Colts took a low-risk deal with him. That risk didn’t pay off, and now it’s time to walk away from him.
Funchess is still just 26 years old and should be able to at least get on a roster before training camp. But the Colts would be smart to either sign someone else or draft a player to take the spot he was supposed to fill, which was the second receiver alongside T.Y. Hilton.
Chris Ballard is still in search of a big receiver to pair with Hilton and Parris Campbell. There are some options in the draft, with Jerry Jeudy being the best of them. Free agency has a few gems as well, A.J. Green being the most notable guy.
However they decide to solve this problem, Funchess should no longer be part of the solution. It was a minor gamble that didn’t pay off, and that’s okay.