One of the best things about the 2025 Indianapolis Colts offense was the prototypical set of wide receivers they could put on the field. They had a physical X receiver in Michael Pittman who could make tough catches on intermediate routes.
In Alec Pierce, they had a classic Z deep threat. And Josh Downs was a dangerous slot receiver. They even boasted a high-floor prospect in Adonai Mitchell, who appeared to have a future at either perimeter spot.
One year later, Pittman is in Pittsburgh and Mitchell is a Jet. Pierce will assume some of Pittman’s X responsibilities, though it remains to be seen exactly how Shane Steichen plans to employ his top wideout. Regardless of how Pierce is used, there appears to be a hole at the other perimeter receiver spot.
Indianapolis Colts could find help at receiver in the 2027 draft
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine might be the answer. The free agent has never played in a potent offense. He has good size and has shown flashes of big-play ability. But the book is still wide open, and the early returns have not been glowing.
He is penciled in as a starter now, but that could change. Rookie Deion Burks is a fascinating prospect who may be able to slide into Pierce’s deep threat role, but that too is uncertain.
The bottom line is that the Indianapolis Colts could be looking for more receiving help in the 2027 draft. Here are three prospects to watch when the college games begin in September.
A couple of things to remember. Indianapolis does not currently have a first-round pick in 2027. General manager Chris Ballard traded it as part of the Sauce Gardner deal. So the Colts are not getting Jeremiah Smith.
The Ohio State star will likely be one of the top picks next year – maybe number one overall. But recent years have proven over and over that teams can find gems at receiver in later rounds.
None of the following players currently have draft projections in the first round. Of course, that can change as the season plays out. All of them have the size to play a role similar to the one Michael Pittman played over the last five years.
Depending on how Alec Pierce performs in 2026, that may not be what the Colts will seek in a young wideout. But I am going to assume that Steichen does not want Pierce constantly tethered to the line of scrimmage.
Pierce showed he was far more than a deep threat in 2025, but you still want him able to line up in a Z position and take off from time to time. A bigger receiver who can handle intermediate routes the way Pittman did would help maximize Pierce, regardless of his designation.
Ryan Wingo, Texas
Wingo looks the part of an X receiver. He has the size (6’2”, 214 pounds) to stand up to press coverage and the speed (4.36 in the 40) to blow past defensive backs who try to crowd him. In two seasons at Texas, he caught 83 balls at a 15.7 yards-per-catch clip.
As a freshman, he played behind 2025 first-round draft pick Matthew Golden, but elevated to WR1 as a sophomore; he took off, scoring seven touchdowns and gaining more than 800 receiving yards. Wingo has also shown to be a good blocker on the outside, a trait that all NFL teams value.
Based on his physical traits, Wingo should be a first-round prospect, but he remains a work-in-progress. Too many lapses in concentration result in drops. He runs deep patterns very effectively but has yet to perfect short and intermediate routes.
The drops may be a red flag, but he is still a very young player, and there is every reason to believe he will continue to improve in 2026. If he improves too much, he may well price himself out for a team without a first-round pick. But he remains an intriguing option.
Nyck Harbor, South Carolina
The numbers on Nyck Harbor defy belief. He comes from the same Gamecock program that gave the freakishly athletic Nick Emmanwori to the NFL last year, and if anything, Harbor is even more impressive. Let the raw numbers sink in for a moment – 6’5”, 235 pounds, and he has been clocked at 4.24 in the 40. That’s not a typo. 4.24 – one of the fastest times ever recorded.
The book on Harbor is virtually identical to that of Ryan Wingo. Amazing upside. Still very underdeveloped as a route runner and pass catcher. Both Harbor and Wingo have issues with drops and contested catches. Harbor has caught just 68 passes in three college seasons.
But if Wingo’s ceiling looks to be a faster version of Michael Pittman, Harbor looks like another Calvin Johnson. Or at least DK Metcalf. As a bonus, his frame and desire make him one of the best blocking receivers in the college game.
KJ Duff, Rutgers
Duff is a little bit of a mirror of the first two receivers. Like Wingo and Harbor, he offers excellent size at 6’6”, 225 pounds. He does not have their outlandish speed, but in 2025, he showed himself to be a much more polished, professional-looking receiver.
Where Wingo and Harbor have issues with contested catches and route running, those are Duff’s real strengths. Though he can overwhelm smaller defenses with his sheer size on deep balls, he is best on intermediate routes, much like Pittman. He is probably best-suited to step into a similar role and allow Pierce greater freedom.
At Rutgers in 2025, he torched opponents for 60 catches and more than 1,000 yards. That works out to 18 yards per catch. But in the pros, his modest speed does not figure to achieve similar results. With other genuine threats like Pierce, Downs, and tight end Tyler Warren, that would be just fine for the Colts. Duff could play an essential role.
Since it is impossible to know how draft ratings will change during the course of the college season, I would watch KJ Duff most closely. His lack of pure speed may put a damper on his ceiling, which would in turn make him available to the Colts somewhere in round two. And he would look mighty good in speed blue.
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