Do the Indianapolis Colts have the inside track on signing one of free agency’s top speedsters?
Considering he planted the intention himself, you’d have to think so.
Given their inviting cap situation and promising 2020 campaign in which they made the playoffs with a largely inexperienced roster, the Colts figure to be one of the most appealing free agent destinations this offseason.
With veteran TY Hilton looking increasingly unlikely to re-sign before the legal tampering period begins, the wide receiver position figures to be a point of emphasis for Indy in free agency.
Fortunately for GM Chris Ballard, he will have no shortage of options to choose from, and we say that despite coveted duo Allen Robinson and Chris Godwin receiving the franchise tag.
In fact, if the latest free agency buzz is any indication, the Colts will have zero problem recruiting top receivers to come play for them, as recently-released wideout John Brown just revealed that Indianapolis is one of his two preferred destinations.
Former Bills WR John Brown has interest in the Steelers and the Colts. https://t.co/M88UiIKeZl
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 11, 2021
Free agent WR John Brown wants to play for the Colts.
Believe it or not, Brown’s interest in the Colts boils down to a lot more than them being flush with cap space.
During an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio this week, the former Bills speedster acknowledged Indy’s promising future and their usage of Hilton as primary factors.
"“The Indianapolis Colts,” Brown said when he was asked about which teams he would like to play for. “The way they use TY Hilton and when we played those guys in the playoffs, I walked off and I’m like, this team, they’re up and coming, they’re going to be a problem in the next few years.”"
As far as fit is concerned, Brown is without a doubt barking up the right tree, as he and Hilton bring similar intangibles to the table as receivers. After all, they’re both capable of taking the top off of opposing defenses and flourish working along the sidelines.
At this point, it remains to be seen if the Colts are interested in signing Brown (he was just released by Buffalo yesterday), but their need for speed at WR cannot be understated and the seven-year pro would go a long way towards adding a new dimension to the offense.
Brown’s injury history might raise a red flag, as he was limited to just nine games this past campaign due to an ankle injury. However, he appeared in 31 of a possible 32 contests over the previous two seasons, so it’s not like we’re talking about someone who’s never available.
Bills have released wideout John Brown, per source. Speedy receiver now available.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 10, 2021
It’s also worth noting that the 30-year-old is just one year removed from being the No. 1 receiver on a Bills team that made the playoffs in 2019, logging a career-high 72 receptions for 1,060 yards (14.7 YPC) and six touchdowns.
We’re not saying the Colts should prioritize Brown over other members of the stacked free agent class, as a possession-based receiver would be a better fit for Carson Wentz. However, if they have any leftover money to spend, we wouldn’t hate the idea of adding Brown as a deep threat to really set their WR corps over the top.
Something to think about as we inch closer to the start of free agency.
And if you just started thinking about it today, Brown himself is way ahead of you.
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