Daniel Jones might be forced to rely on a limited number of weapons this season if either the Indianapolis Colts don't boost their wide receiver room with an outside acquisition or their current crop of depth pass catchers doesn't produce a clear-cut No. 3 target behind Alec Pierce and Josh Downs.
Granted, a piece of that limited number of weapons would include tight end Tyler Warren, whom the Colts know can be relied upon, plus running back Jonathan Taylor. Still, putting aside everyone who falls behind the starters, while a four-person group of Pierce, Downs, Warren, and Taylor is very good, Jones might need more.
Which is why it should move Jones to add a little more pressure to Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Anthony Goulde, Laquon Treadwell, and rookie Deion Burks, none of whom have taken the baton and run with it just yet. It's still early in training camp, but Jones needs one of those players to step up.
Someone needs to make their move for the WR3 spot before Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones throws up his hands
The biggest offensive play to happen at Colts camp so far has been a 50-yard bomb to Westbrook-Ikhine, but Jones wasn't the initiator; Riley Leonard was. Other than that one two-minute drill play, Colts receivers without the last name of Downs (Pierce is sidelined at the moment) have really put themselves ahead of the others.
Dulin, who's been with the Colts the longest of all of Indianapolis's depth receivers, should be the one ahead in the race, but that hasn't happened yet. Dulin and the 10-year veteran, Treadwell, have reportedly taken the bulk of the first-team reps alongside Downs. If there was ever a better time for Dulin to rise above his competition, it's now, especially with Pierce out of the picture.
The fact that no depth receiver has made that big jump to secure that third spot behind Pierce and Downs should be a cause for concern. Jones might be hoping that the Colts finally go out and pick up someone like Keenan Allen or Stefon Diggs, because either player would instantly improve Jones' weapons arsenal.
That said, Colts general manager Chris Ballard's inactivity regarding Deebo Samuel might be a foreshadowing tip, as in, Ballard is suspiciously content not to improve his offense. Why is this a problem for Jones? He's not Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, or Lamar Jackson. All three of those elite quarterbacks could survive without a complete arsenal.
Jones is not elite, which means the more he has to work with, the better it is for him and his offense. Colts fans shouldn't expect Ballard to sign someone else; therefore, the pressure for someone like Dulin has to be high. The fact that he has yet to emerge as the best WR3 option this offseason is troubling.
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