The Indianapolis Colts are well underway in their free-agent pursuits. So far, they’ve retained most of the guys from last year’s team. The biggest offensive move they made was agreeing to a three-year $70 million contract extension with Michael Pittman Jr. This is arguably the most important move they made this off-season.
It ensures that franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson will have his No. 1 wide receiver. There is still an open competition for the second outside wide receiver spot. Third-year man Alec Pierce is the presumed starter. However, there will be competition from now second-year man Josh Downs.
Now, the Coltrs might like Downs to operate more in the slot where he can be even more lethal. But if Pierce can’t be more than the perennial deep threat with inconsistent hands, then the team will have little choice but to move Downs to the outside. He can have success when lined up outside.
This does bring up the need for the Colts to have another play-making receiver. It could be tight end Brock Bowers or one of these five wide receiver prospects.
Ricky Pearsall – Florida
- 6-foot-1, 189 lbs
Ricky Pearsall’s name should be no surprise as he was current Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson’s go-to guy in 2022. The connection they built shouldn’t take much to re-establish should they be reunited. And this past season Pearsall had the greatest catch in college football history. During his time at Florida, he showed he could play both, inside and outside. Unlike Downs, Pearsall has the size and athleticism to play on the outside in the NFL.
Now, he is a fifth-year senior so the question of how much more upside can be extracted at the NFL is a concern. If he’s already reached his ceiling in his final year in college, then he’ll probably be a low-end number two or high-end third wide receiver on the depth chart. He’s a good route runner who can be creative at times. Unfortunately, this creativity can lead to some missed timing with his quarterback. He could stand to work on his physicality, especially when pressed at the line of scrimmage. Despite Pearsall running a 4.41 40-yard dash at the combine he isn’t an explosive player, nor does his tape consistently show this speed.
As previously stated, he does a great job of making contested catches, tracking the ball, and adjusting his body to make spectacular catches. Pearsall is a good route runner who utilizes head movements to help gain separation from his defender. And because he’s a good route runner he is adept at attacking the soft spot of zone coverage and feel for working through traffic on in-breaking routes.
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Keon Coleman – Florida State
- 6-foot-3, 213 lbs
During Keon Coleman’s final collegiate season, there was a thought that he would or could be a first-round selection. However, after running a disappointing 4.61 40-yard dash at the combine, he will be a Day 2 pick at best. But this isn’t to say that he can succeed in the NFL. Coleman has a lot of desirable traits for NFL teams.
For example, his size and ability to high-point the ball while successfully boxing out his defender. He did play for Tom Izzo at Michigan State before transferring to Florida State. He’s got good hands and is a handful to bring down which plays a part in his ability to gain valuable yards after the catch. He is drawing comparisons to Drake London, who coincidentally drew comparisons to Michael Pittman Jr. Something noticeable when watching Coleman is that his routes back to the quarterback, such as curls, are fierce.
While the previously mentioned 40-yard dash time is disappointing, there is some talk that Coleman plays faster than he tested. Regardless, there is a noticeable lack of explosion, acceleration, and crispness to his routes that is concerning. Unfortunately, this hinders his ability to gain separation and explains why he has so many contested catches on his game film. And despite his size, he is inconsistent in his run blocking. For someone who has such physical prowess, he lacks the desired intensity and aggression when blocking.
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Ladd McConkey – Georgia
- 6-feet, 186 lbs
Ladd McConkey is a name that has people buzzing. He only appeared in eight games in his final collegiate, due to back and ankle injuries, season compiling 29 catches for 461 yards, and two touchdowns. But he finished his college career with 119 catches, 1,687 yards, and 14 touchdowns, along with 13 rushing attempts for 216 yards and four touchdowns. However, when you watch his film you can’t get excited about the playmaker he is.
Despite McConkey being six feet tall some scouts view him as just an NFL slot receiver. Even if that’s all he is, he should still find success as he’s drawing comparisons to Antonio Brown. Unsurprising that he’ll need to get stronger both to win contested catches and to be press coverage. One area of his route running that needs improvement is his ability to track and catch the deep ball.
The one area that McConkey shines bright on is his route running as it was hard for SEC cornerbacks to keep him covered. He utilizes precise route running along with head fakes and the ability to stop and start in an instant to keep his defender off balance. It’s the last point that brings the comparison to the aforementioned Brown. It’s also a major reason why he’s so hard to cover. He does have enough speed, as evidenced by his 4.39 40-yard dash time, to threaten defenses deep.
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Malachi Corley – Western Kentucky
- 5-foot-11, 215 lbs
Malachi Corley is a perfect example of how deep this wide receiver class is, as he’s projected to be a Day 2 selection. Regardless of when he’s selected, he has NFL talent. Now, the question for the team that selects him is how they’ll develop him. The way he plays draws comparisons to Deebo Samuel, and Corley’s nickname is the ‘YAC King’.
Now, he does need to work on his route running and expand his route tree. While at Western Kentucky, Corley ran a limited route tree and took a lot of ‘handoffs’ out wide. And even though he breaks a lot of tackles with his physical play, he struggles with contested catches. There is also the question if he’ll be able to play on the outside in the NFL. He could in college, however, if he can’t run better routes, then he may be a gadget player or slot wide receiver.
Corley did have a lot of targets schemed for him too, but despite this, he is a hit stick with the ball in his hands. His film is littered with many broken tackles and it’s no surprise that he is adept at picking up extra yards. Despite him being just 5-foot-11 Corley does a good job of catching the ball away from his frame, which helps expand his catch radius.
Roman Wilson – Michigan
- 5-foot-11, 185 lbs
Roman Wilson’s senior season was one to remember, as it was his best with 48 catches, 789 yards, 12 touchdowns, and one national championship. Unlike Corley, Wilson wants to beat you with speed rather than run you over. And his first year in the NFL probably sees him as a rotational player.
Wilson’s size does project him as being only a slot receiver, especially since there are concerns about him holding up throughout an NFL season. But that’s not to say it’s the only reason. His route running, specifically his ability to sell routes, needs work. There are times that he runs his routes at the same speed compared to varying them to help keep the defender off balance. Despite his blazing 4.39 speed, he doesn’t offer much in yards after the catch nor is he a strong blocker in the run game. However, that speed is something that defenders will need to be aware of at all times, as it is an angle killer. His strong hands help him catch passes away from his body and, therefore, expand his catch radius. Something that should be beneficial for the Colts and Wilson is the fact that he does a good job of getting open when plays are extended. He also offers some help on special teams.
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