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.

[Rich Cannon]

I know WR is of need but i think this new Colts team should be built differently than the old one. Lets start out with a strong Defense and running game. I think some good cheap options for us would be Early Doucet (who had a descent year as the cardinals number 2 receiver) , Eddie Royal (imo hasnt declined, just battled some injuries this past year and would be a solid posession reciever, and is still young). Resigning Tamme is another priority imo as well. I think a majority of this cap should be spent on Defensive FA'S. Given the cheap options at WR I mentioned.

[vinatierifan4]

gonzalez wont be back. they told him yesterday they wont renew a contract.

[Indeee]

Where I believe the Colts may add an economic reciever thru free agency if Garcon doesn't resign ( which I think he will once he realizes no one else will pay him 7 mil a year ) I'm under tyhe belief that the colts will select Ashlon Jeffries WR SC with 34th overall pick ( 2nd rounder ). Garcon, Collie and Jeffries would be doable IMO. Resign Tamme too

[SanAntonioColt]

1. QB

2. All other positions tied for second.

[Andy]

gonzalez wont be back. they told him yesterday they wont renew a contract.

You're right, it's just that I wrote this 3 days ago, and didn't update it.

[Andy]

I know WR is of need but i think this new Colts team should be built differently than the old one. Lets start out with a strong Defense and running game. I think some good cheap options for us would be Early Doucet (who had a descent year as the cardinals number 2 receiver) , Eddie Royal (imo hasnt declined, just battled some injuries this past year and would be a solid posession reciever, and is still young). Resigning Tamme is another priority imo as well. I think a majority of this cap should be spent on Defensive FA'S. Given the cheap options at WR I mentioned.

No matter what the system, a team needs good receivers. As it is right now, the Colts only have 2 so resigning or signing some is a must. They must either draft some or get some in the FA. I understand that Luck may not need the greatest, but he needs some quality at that spot. Early Doucet is a good start, and with Manning possibly going there, they may have to release him. I really like that thinking of signing Doucet. Get some cheap bodies in there and build in the middle rounds of the draft.