One question that surfaced after the Indianapolis Colts re-signed Alec Pierce in free agency was who else they might pursue at wide receiver. Other free agents like Wan'Dale Robinson, Kendrick Bourne, and Jauan Jennings, who the Colts were linked to for a while, are all off the board by now.
The likes of Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, DeAndre Hopkins, and Deebo Samuel are still out there, waiting to sign with a new team, but if the Colts’ seemingly inactive search for veteran experience to add to their own wide receiver group says anything, Colts fans are unlikely to see any of those four remaining players in a Colts jersey next season.
It appears the Colts aren't interested in adding but in sticking with who they've got and developing those further back on the depth chart. This course of action could prove to be risky, given that the current wide receiver depth chart isn't exactly considered elite or anywhere close to the top of the league.
Indianapolis Colts OC Jim Bob Cooter believes in the players already in the room going into next season
That said, according to Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, the Colts are prepared to go with who they already have.
One of the Colts’ biggest losses this offseason was Michael Pittman Jr., who left in free agency. The six-year veteran signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a serviceable tenure in Indianapolis. Pittman was the Colts' No. 1 target for much of his tenure, but has now passed those duties down to Pierce.
With Pierce, the Colts have a solid first option for quarterback Daniel Jones, but after him, there is much less experience and more unproven players. Josh Downs, for instance, will step into the Colts' No. 2 spot behind Peirce; Downs has never been this high on the depth chart in the three years he's been in the league. He'll have his first opportunity as a go-to target next season.
After Downs, Ashton Dulin (who doubles as a kick returner), free agent signee Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Laquon Treadwell, and Anthony Gould round out the wide receiver room.
If the Colts choose not to sign a veteran, it shows they clearly have trust in developing what they already have. According to Cooter, next season will be a group effort, which could mean everyone could get opportunities to catch some balls.
“Yeah, there are some really good players in that room," Cooter explained during a recent interview. "I think there's a lot of different ways to play good football in the wide receiver room. We've tried to do a good job in years past of utilizing those guys for their strengths. Whether it's, one guy playing 1,000 snaps, or two guys playing 500 a piece, or however it shakes out, 700, 300 – maybe there's three or four guys sort of utilizing those snaps.
"We're going to try to use guys to the best of their ability to help our offense, and really to the best of their ability to showcase what they can do. Because we do have some guys in that room who have played good NFL football before, and I think those guys are excited to sort of have an opportunity, maybe to play a couple extra reps here and there and take advantage of those opportunities.
Now, we like those guys. We like the room. It'll be sort of fun to watch how it goes offseason (and) in training camp. We'll do everything we can to put them in the best position to have success.”
If this is the Colts' plan for next year, they better hope Pierce and Downs, who are at the top of the targets list, come through in their new roles in huge ways. Additionally, someone to watch for is rookie Deion Burks, whom the Colts took late in the draft and who already has a lot of buzz in Indianapolis. Perhaps the rookie will shoot out of the cannon and establish himself early on.
The bulk of the load will still rest on Pierce and Downs, though, and as long as Jones can stay healthy, it's not a bad trio going into their second season together.
Add us as a preferred source on Google