After signing veteran free agent wideout Keenan Allen less than a month before the start of the regular season, the Indianapolis Colts have another veteran receiver available on the market whom quarterback Daniel Jones would likely support.
As it stands, with Allen now on board, the Colts have Alec Pierce and Josh Downs as the No. 1 and No. 2 primary wide receivers, and Allen sliding in right behind. After that, longtime Colts veteran Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell, and rookie Alec Burks comprise the remaining wideout depth. It's a large room, but that doesn't mean there isn't a little more room for the right player.
Former New York Giants wide receiver and former teammate of Jones, Darius Slayton, just hit the market after being a late release from the Giants. The release came late, but it gives the Colts an option to add more depth at wideout and a familiar weapon for Jones at the last minute. The question is: does Indianapolis need him? Would it be a good addition for Jones's sake?
Darius Slay offers the Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts experienced depth and familiarity
A veteran pass-catcher with seven years of experience, 22 touchdowns, over 4,000 receiving yards, and 296 receptions as a depth wideout is always the type of player an NFL team would consider signing for a one-year deal. Slayton is about to be that player. Whether it's with the Colts is another conversation.
NFL insider Josina Anderson recently reported that multiple teams have already expressed interest in Slayton, but the Colts were not specifically mentioned. That said, the Colts should be interested for two reasons. On one hand, their wide receiver depth is thin, having cut six wideouts, including Anthony Gould and Nick Westbrooke-Ikhine, at the roster cut deadline.
Slayton isn't a star or a No. 1, or even No. 2, option, but if the Colts signed him, he'd immediately be the better depth option than whoever they have after Pierce, Downs, and Allen. Then there is the Jones factor, having been Slayton's quarterback in New York for six seasons.
The familiarity and comfort would be there, and of Slayton's 4,000-plus receiving yards, 3,897 came thanks to Jones. Adding Slayton would be a positive on more than one front for the Colts.
That being said, with one of the NFL's all-time leaders in receptions (Allen is ranked 13th with 1,055 catches) and within striking distance of moving into the top five all-time, Slayton may never even reach Indianapolis' radar.
In any case, Slayton's addition wouldn't hurt, and Jones is likely to say yes to a move like it. Given Slayton's reliability as a backup option, he may not be on the market for long. If the Colts want in, they should move quickly.
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