When the Indianapolis Colts traded Michael Pittman Jr. this past offseason to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the move gave Indy more cap space but also cost the team a long-trusted receiver. Was Pittman one of the best wideouts in the NFL? No, but he was a valuable possession receiver whom the Colts loved to target.
General manager Chris Ballard didn't sign an obvious replacement for Pittman. He did sign Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but he's never been overly productive. It is a seventh-round 2026 choice that could be able to break the door down to make an impact this coming season and beyond.
Former Oklahoma and Purdue receiver Deion Burks isn't big (he is 5'9" and 190 pounds), but he showed positional flexibility in college that could transition well to the league. In 2024, for instance, he was mostly a slot receiver. In 2025, he spent much of his time (78 percent) on the outside. He might be small, but he's quick, and he knew how to get open.
Deion Burks will have every opportunity to turn into the Indianapolis Colts' WR3
He's also sure-handed. In 128 targets over the last two seasons, he only dropped four passes. If a catchable ball is tossed his way, he is going to catch it. That should happen more with the Colts and quarterback Daniel Jones than it did with the Sooners in 2024 and 2025, and the Boilermakers from 2021 through 2023, when Burks played with less-talented quarterbacks.
Burks also doesn't tend to back down from major challenges. In 2025, the Sooners played the Michigan Wolverines in their second game, and Burks caught seven of his 12 targets for 101 yards. In the first round of the College Football Playoff against Alabama, the receiver caught seven of his nine targets for a season-high 107 yards and a touchdown.
While one could argue that Burks could have been more productive against lesser competition, such as Temple or Kent State, that he stepped up in important games should give Indianapolis Colts fans hope. For a late-round rookie in OTAs and training camp, there are no off days. Every day for Deion Burks will be as if he were playing against Michigan and Alabama.
Being a seventh-round draft pick means Burks will not have the luxury of having a few good games and proving he belongs in the NFL. He will need to do that over several seasons. He will always be remembered as being chosen in the last round.
He is also exceedingly athletic. He was timed at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash, and his vertical leap was an extraordinary 42 1/2 inches. Burks is only 69 inches tall, so his vertical leap is two-thirds of his actual height.
Most importantly, he should be a training camp star for the Colts, but his explosion shouldn't stop there. By midseason, he could be Indianapolis WR3, just behind Alec Pierce and Josh Downs. That could be a fearsome trio for Indy for many years to come.
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