Colts Team Needs: Wide Receiver

[Andy]

For the next few days, Andrew Aziz will be dishing out "Colts Team Needs" articles that will lead up nicely to the start of free agency on March 13th. Today’s entry is about the wide receivers.

Opening Statement:

The wide receiver spot hasn’t been a need for the Colts since the early 90’s. We’ll it’s become one again. Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon are almost definitely out of Indianapolis after Reggie Wayne said he would like to be with Peyton and Garcon rejected contract offers from the Colts. This leaves the Colts with 2 receivers under contract: Austin Collie and Blair White.

What They Can Do To Fix This Need:

Like the cornerback spot, the Colts can go to Free Agency or the draft to find some talent. They should not bring in undrafted free agents and hope there’s a diamond in the rough. The Colts must go into the draft and with the 9 draft picks that the Colts (probably) have, they should spend at least 2 on the receivers spot. I think they should leave the 1^st and 2^nd round to Andrew Luck and a cornerback, but after that spend some picks on receivers. A.J Jenkins is a great value pick in the 4^th round and Chris Owusu played with Luck at Stanford and he could be drafted in the 6^th round. In the Free Agency, you have a good amount of star receivers in Vincent Jackson, Reggie Wayne and Marques Colston. Problem is they’re expensive and the Colts are in long-term mode. The draft is the best place to find future good talent. Go to the draft and spend picks there on some good receivers with a lot of upside.

What the Depth Chart of that Position Looks like Now:

#1 (LWR): Reggie Wayne (Free Agent (chances of returning: 10%))

#2 (RWR): Pierre Garcon (Free Agent (chances of returning: 25%))

#3 (LIWR): Austin Collie

#4 (RIWR): Anthony Gonzalez (Free Agent (chances of returning 33%))

#5 (backup for any position): Blair White

Prospects: Jeremy Ross, Jarred Fayson

What the Ideal (and Realistic) Depth Chart of that Position Looks Like:

#1 (LWR): Reggie Wayne (Signed to 2y deal = 12M including 7M bonus over 2y)

#2 (RWR): Pierre Garcon (Signed to 4y deal = 23M including 15M bonus over 4y)

#3 (LIWR): Austin Collie

#4 (RIWR): Chris Owusu (Drafted)

#5 (backup for any position): Blair White

#6 (Prospect/Practice Squad player) : Jordan White (Drafted)

Expectations for Next Year:

The Colts should go into next year preparing without Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon. This means that they must get wide receivers in the draft. The wide receiver spot is a position that is rebuilding. You’re not going to get superstars right away, so just start from the bottom and build to the top. This year’s wide receiver draft should set the foundation to the wide receivers spot then over the years build on that either through Free Agency or through the draft. The Colts must draft receivers this year and for years to come as the position is short on people and Austin Collie is a free agent next year. They should set the building blocks this year and get Andrew Luck some competent targets and he’ll already have Austin Collie. I expect the receivers to struggle a bit, as most of them will be new/rookies so you can’t expect much from them unless it’s Blackmon or Floyd. Keep building on this year’s draft. Don’t expect much from the receivers, but Andrew Luck had a terrible receiving core at Stanford with his best wide receiver being Owusu, who isn’t great. They seemed to click. If they draft him, we could see Luck be more comfortable, but even then the receivers will still struggle. The Colts will go from deep and great receiving core to arguably the worst in the league.

[21isSuperman]

I would hope Gonzo has a better chance of returning. He has done very well when healthy. If we can bring him back at a maximum of $1 mil/year contract, I'm all for it

[Fx Stryker]

Gonzo would be good for Luck I believe. He hasn't had any real injuries these past seasons, and with Garcon gone I believe Anthony has a chance for his #2 spot.

[presto123]

Can we get at least a mid level wide receiver or maybe some corner help for Freeney? I have a feeling if we give Luck a few weapons that he will produce some offense early. Even if our OL is mediocre Luck is very mobile.

[austriancolt]

Robert Meachem would be a nice option if we can't sign Pierre Garcon. Maybe we can get him for a reasonable price.

http://www.nfl.com/player/robertmeachem/2495676/careerstats

Early Doucet would at least add some depth, is still young with 26 and shouldn't cost very much

http://www.nfl.com/player/earlydoucet/220/careerstats

[chad72]

One established #1 like Colston in free agency, 2 WRs in the draft and we should be cooking, IMO.

[atapcl]

The WR position is deep this year in the draft and we could probably get a couple good players late but if we do not get a NT,G, and C we will be dead in the water all year.

[Malakai432]

I'm wondering if the Colts could pick up Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Aries or Titans Kronos, Gaia & Atlas via free agency. Odin and Thor would be nice but I'm not sure if Nordic mythical gods are available this year. They would be a big help. Marques Colston would also do if none of the aforementioned gods are available.

[southwest1]

I would hope Gonzo has a better chance of returning. He has done very well when healthy. If we can bring him back at a maximum of $1 mil/year contract, I'm all for it

Gonzo has been way too injury prone as you suggest. Given the depleted status of our offensive roster, I don't see the need to keep him either cut him now. We can find a WR in the draft that actually plays on game day for once.

[21isSuperman]

Gonzo has been way too injury prone as you suggest. Given the depleted status of our offensive roster, I don't see the need to keep him either cut him now. We can find a WR in the draft that actually plays on game day for once.

If we can retain him for a very low cap hit, it won't hurt. He has shown that he can do well and has the most experience out of any of the other WRs

[JWF]

I do hope they can convince Wayne to come back and help during the Luck development.

[southwest1]

If we can retain him for a very low cap hit, it won't hurt. He has shown that he can do well and has the most experience out of any of the other WRs

You do make a very valid point 21isSuperman. It is totally contingent on a low cap number. Gonzo does possess sick athletic ability & he would be a good veteran presence on the field for Luck next season. I am just tired of seeing Gonzo on the sidelines year after year that's all. You were very persuasive & you talked me into it. But, if Gonzo can't play this year & he gets hurt again; he is gone. No more passes or exceptions anymore.

[21isSuperman]

You do make a very valid point 21isSuperman. It is totally contingent on a low cap number. Gonzo does possess sick athletic ability & he would be a good veteran presence on the field for Luck next season. I am just tired of seeing Gonzo on the sidelines year after year that's all. You were very persuasive & you talked me into it. But, if Gonzo can't play this year & he gets hurt again; he is gone. No more passes or exceptions anymore.

I should be an agent. The thing is he has almost nothing to argue that he should get paid very much. There is nothing his agent could say that would make me believe he should be paid more than $1.3 mil per season

[ruksak]

I'm still convinced that Coby Fleener (TE) is the best option for receiving talent in this years draft for our guy Luck. If he's available with that 34Th overall pick, I say take him. WR is a need I was hoping the Colts would exercise in FA.

Roscoe Parrish is intriguing for me as a deep threat and a returner as well as being cheap. The crazy thing is, the best FA WR available for us is Wayne. Why in the heck would they not want to retain him. I mean we can't replenish all our cores with one draft, so what's the sense is aggressively seeking out FA WR talent while ignoring the awesomeness we already have in Wayne?

[Captain Americolt]

Owusu wasnt even Lucks second best target this year. That goes to Griff Whalen, who is almost an exact replica of Austin Collie. I agree with Ruksak, I would want the Colts to get Fleener at #34.