The Indianapolis Colts traded veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman this offseason, which created a need for the team to add another receiver, even if that wideout wasn't expected to be WR1. To answer the Pittman move, Indy has signed former Indiana Hoosiers receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Westbrook-Ikhine went undrafted out of Bloomington in 2020 (that was before the Curt Cignetti era, when the world was a different place), and eventually found his way to the Tennessee Titans. The wide receiver earned his spot on the roster and, by his second season, became a multi-touchdown player each season.
In 2024, he scored nine times, though his receiving yards remained underwhelming. He had a career-high 497, and his nine touchdown catches came on only 32 receptions. He made the most of what he got, and that's a great thing. Maybe he can do the same for Indy in 2026 and beyond.
The Indianapolis Colts sign wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and there was little rejoicing
This past season, however, he was a relative failure in his one season with the Miami Dolphins. He had only 11 catches, no touchdowns, just 89 yards receiving, and he dropped three of his 18 targets.
So which version of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will the Colts get? The 2024 one or the 2025 version? Perhaps Indy's scheme will be more akin to Tennessee than Miami. He certainly won't be expected to be a transformative, and if one does think he should be that way, it's a mistake.
The former Hoosiers' wideout dropped 21.4 percent of his targets last season. He dropped 12.5 percent in 2023. Those are good numbers for a 6'2" and 210-pound player who doesn't have elite speed. He needs to be a possession-type who can be sure-handed and pick up first downs. Dropping passes that would move the chains is one reason the receiver is beginning to bounce around the NFL.
If nothing else, Westbrook-Ikhine will be a deep option in the wide receiver corps. Alec Pierce will be WR1 , and Josh Downs won't be far behind. Tight end Tyler Warren is also going to get a bunch of targets. Westbrook-Ikhine's career-high is 56, and he doesn't need more than that with the Indianapolis Colts in 2026. If he does, something has gone wrong.