The Colts’ wide receiver outlook has received some attention this offseason. Although the team re-signed longtime starter T.Y. Hilton, questions about this crew’s capabilities remain as yet another new starting quarterback arrives.
Indianapolis did not change up its receiver depth chart much this offseason. Hilton, former second-round picks Michael Pittman Jr. and Parris Campbell and ex-UDFA Zach Pascal remain the likely top four among this group. The Colts did not draft a wideout until Round 7, and that pick became a Division III product (Mike Strachan). Ballard admitted this corps may lack a true No. 1 target, but the Colts remain confident in their aerial producers.
“They’re a talented group,” Ballard said during an appearance on The Athletic Football Show with Robert Mays (via the Indianapolis Star). “Is there a guy that, you know, you just line up and go, ‘Holy crap man, how are we gonna stop this guy?’ Maybe not, but they are really damn good players, and T.Y. Hilton can still play. He can still play.”
Pittman, the 34th overall pick in 2020, enjoyed quality moments in a rookie season that included 40 receptions for 503 yards. Pascal has been needed to work as a starter due to Hilton and Campbell’s injuries, but the Colts kept the Old Dominion alum via second-round RFA tender in March. Hilton, 31, missed six games in 2019 and has averaged 50.1 and 50.8 yards per game in the past two seasons — the lowest figures of his career.
Campbell represents a wild card here. Various maladies have thrown the Ohio State product’s career off course. He missed 14 games last season because of a knee injury. That followed a rookie season in which the slot player suffered a broken hand, a broken foot and dealt with a sports hernia. He is back to 100% now but certainly has a lot to prove after missing 23 games over his first two seasons.
“I’m betting on Michael Pittman, who I think’s got a chance to be really good,” Ballard said. “Everybody just ignores Zach Pascal, but all he’s done is catch touchdowns over the last two years. And then getting Parris Campbell back is a big bonus and he’s looked great during the offseason. We think we’re a little better than other people do.”
Although the Colts wooed Hilton back despite the Ravens’ interest, their offer (one year, $8MM) came in under Baltimore’s. This has been a refrain under Ballard, who has not been especially aggressive in free agency during his five offseasons as Colts GM. The Colts have consistently operated with the most or close to the most salary cap space under Ballard but have not outbid other teams for marquee free agents. Though, the team did make impact trades over the past two years — for DeForest Buckner and Carson Wentz — that reshaped its outlook.
“We’ve got good players out of free agency, and we’ve been successful,” Ballard said. “We’re just not the biggest fans of right out the gate free agency where you’re paying B players A-plus money, which is gonna affect down the line. … There’s a cost to that.”
Chunks of the cap space the Colts have hoarded by skipping — the Philip Rivers signing notwithstanding — the free agency first waves in recent years will likely go toward extensions for draft picks. The Colts are negotiating with right tackle Braden Smith and plan to extend All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard. Quenton Nelson is signed through 2022, but the former No. 6 overall pick is 3-for-3 in first-team All-Pro appearances. He will be in line to raise the guard salary ceiling — likely next year.
Ballard is a quality GM but he isn’t fooling anyone with those guys as his top receiver . He isn’t winning with just those.
Not with the rest of the offensive roster, no. With an All Pro QB that’s a good enough group, but Wentz isn’t that guy.
With a great running game & some good TE’s, does it really matter? And we don’t know yet if Wentz is “that guy” or not.