Free agency preview: Plenty of talent in deep WR group | Don’t Miss This

With NFL free company slated to start subsequent week, CNHI Sports activities Indiana breaks down 5 positions of curiosity to the Indianapolis Colts on this five-part collection. This fourth installment focuses on extensive receivers.

Very similar to the dialog at cornerback, any dialogue at extensive receiver should start with in-house choices.

Colts basic supervisor Chris Ballard has already confirmed restricted free agent Zach Pascal will probably be again, which implies the crew will quickly offer the younger veteran a qualifying tender. The thriller surrounds franchise mainstay T.Y. Hilton.

Proprietor Jim Irsay, head coach Frank Reich and Ballard every have mentioned they need Hilton again this spring. However in addition they acknowledge the truth the enterprise facet of the equation should work itself out.

Hilton clearly doesn’t have the top-end pace he possessed on the peak of his profession, however he’s remade himself as a possession receiver and invaluable locker-room chief. What’s that price to a 31-year-old four-time Professional Bowler in what’s anticipated to be a depressed market? We’re about to search out out.

Hilton needs to see what’s on the market for him, and high-profile gamers like Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin and Chicago’s Allen Robinson receiving the franchise tag ought to solely push his identify additional up groups’ want lists. However Spotrac estimates his worth at $10.1 million per season, no small sum but in addition a good distance from the highest of the market.

If Hilton departs, Indianapolis may have loads of choices. It might stand pat with a younger group topped by Pascal, Michael Pittman Jr. and Parris Campbell, however that’s unlikely with Irsay telling the media in January including a playmaker at receiver and/or tight finish is a precedence this spring. That leaves an early draft choose and free company because the most probably options.

Listed below are three potential targets on the open market that would catch Ballard’s eye:

BIG MONEY

If the Colts are going to spend massive at extensive receiver, and there’s little indication that’s the case, why not shoot for the moon? JuJu Smith-Schuster’s participant comps at Spotrac are Amari Cooper, Tyreek Hill, Michael Thomas and Odell Beckham Jr.

That’s some heady firm, and it comes with a corresponding price ticket. The 24-year-old’s projected wage is $16.1 million per yr. Laborious up in opposition to the wage cap, the Pittsburgh Steelers couldn’t take Smith-Schuster off the market with the franchise tag, providing a uncommon alternative to a choose group of suitors with the cap house to simply accept him.

Indianapolis is on that checklist, however each Ballard and Reich have a choice for constructing within the trenches. Second-round picks on Pittman and Campbell symbolize the best funding on the place for the reason that duo got here collectively in 2018.

Smith-Schuster has been unable to copy his 1,426-yard season from 2018 for quite a lot of causes, however even in a comparatively down yr final season, he caught a career-high 9 landing passes. He completed with 97 catches general however for simply 831 yards, a career-low common of 8.6 yards per reception.

Smith-Schuster might supply the Colts a flexible 6-foot-1 goal who can line up everywhere in the area, primarily permitting the crew’s high 4 receivers to be interchangeable from one all the way down to the subsequent. However a bidding warfare doubtless is imminent for his companies, and that’s a scene Ballard has averted with constant zeal.

FAMILIAR FACE

Nelson Agholor’s identify was sure to return up in reference to the Colts. The 27-year-old loved a breakout season in 2020, his first yr with the Las Vegas Raiders – setting profession highs with 896 receiving yards and an 18.7-yard common catch. The latter quantity was greater than 6 yards higher than his earlier greatest. Agholor additionally tied a career-high with eight landing receptions.

These numbers doubtless will probably be sufficient to attract curiosity from a number of receiver-needy groups, however few supply the consolation of Indianapolis. Agholor’s earlier greatest season got here in 2017 with the Philadelphia Eagles. With Carson Wentz as his quarterback and Reich because the offensive coordinator, Agholor caught 62 passes for 768 yards and eight touchdowns for the Tremendous Bowl champions.

There have been persistent questions on his inconsistent fingers in Philly, however Agholor confirmed in Vegas he has the products to be a big-time playmaker. He additionally flashed robust management that would carry much more weight if the Colts can’t attain a cope with Hilton.

With a $9.7 million per yr projection by Spotrac, Agholor additionally isn’t prone to break the financial institution.

BALLARD BLUEPRINT

Like Hilton in Indianapolis, Willie Snead sacrificed particular person statistics for crew success over the previous two years for the Baltimore Ravens. He confirmed a willingness to do the soiled work, blocking for the league’s most harmful and diversified operating sport whereas additionally profiting from his restricted alternatives.

Snead caught 64 passes for 771 yards and eight touchdowns over the previous two seasons, averaging 12 yards per reception and catching 68.1% of his targets. However the former Ball State star proved earlier in his profession he can even thrive within the passing sport.

He had 141 receptions for 1,879 yards and 7 scores in 2015-16 with the New Orleans Saints and even managed 62 receptions for 651 yards and one landing in his first season for Baltimore, with Joe Flacco beginning the yr earlier than being changed by a rookie Lamar Jackson.

That blend of potential and self-sacrifice might entice the Colts.