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Indianapolis Colts could solve their receiver problem with one risky move

Worth the gamble?
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs watches the play
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs watches the play | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Indianapolis Colts need to make the postseason this season, and enough talent exists on the roster for the team to make a playoff push. Still, the team could use a different WR3 than any of the players who are currently competing for the job. Stefon Diggs would be an upgrade.

At least, he would be an upgrade on the field. No doubt that he does come with some concerns off the field. Without going too much into his past legal problems, let's just say he has had a few. He is a free agent currently, though, and is available to sign with any team.

Would the NFL suspend him for any length of time for his 2025 indiscretions? Possibly, but teams have to move forward with signing the receiver or not, assuming he will appear in most games and help the team win games. Diggs can still do that.

Stefon Diggs might be a risk the Indianapolis Colts need to take

Last season with the New England Patriots, a team that lost in the Super Bowl to the Seattle Seahawks, Diggs had 85 catches on 102 targets (an extraordinarily high 83.3 percent catch rate) for 1,013 yards. Those numbers would have led the Colts in 2025.

What Indianapolis doesn't have this year that it had last season, though, is Michael Pittman Jr. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving Indy with Alec Pierce as WR1 and Josh Downs as WR2. Most teams need at least three good wide receivers, and so do the Colts, even though the team does have tight end Tyler Warren.

Diggs would likely be an upgrade over what Pittman was recently able to give the team. The outside receiver had turned into a possession receiver without much explosiveness. He could be good with Pittsburgh, but Indianapolis needs more.

Diggs is now 32 years old, but has remained relatively healthy other than in 2024 with the Houston Texans. He also has seven seasons of more than 1,000 yards receiving. The risk with signing Diggs is what he could do away from football, but on the field, he's a safe bet to be a productive player.

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen need to do everything possible to make the playoffs and keep their current jobs after the 2026 season. That might mean bringing in a player like Diggs to form a formidable wideout trio of Pierce, Downs, and Diggs. Add Warren to that mix, and Indy is a very scary thing for any opponent.

Would Stefon Diggs alone make the Colts a playoff team? No, but he wouldn't be expected to be the alpha of the receiver corps. He'd be another valuable piece in the overall makeup of Shane Steichen's unit. He is a gamble that could pay off big.

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