If the Indianapolis Colts don't find a suitable receiver in the NFL Draft, they may fill their need in free agency afterward.
The Indianapolis Colts are less than two weeks out from the 2026 NFL Draft with a need at wide receiver.
After trading away AD Mitchell in November and Michael Pittman Jr. in March, there are holes alongside Alec Pierce and Josh Downs. However, do the Colts look to patch it through the draft, or do they go with a known commodity in free agency?
Gilberto Manzano of SI.com thinks Indy might be the best fit for free agent weapon Deebo Samuel, who he considers to be among the eight best free agents remaining on the open market.
"Samuel hasn’t made the same impact he did in his All-Pro 2021 season," Manzano writes. "But taking fewer snaps in the backfield likely added a few extra years to his career."
"The 30-year-old only had 17 carries last season and was asked to do more as a receiver due to the injuries to No. 1 wideout Terry McLaurin and star quarterback Jayden Daniels, who only played in seven games," Manzano continued.
"He’s not as dynamic as he once was. Still, it bodes well that his route-running skills and reliable hands led to him recording 72 catches for 727 yards and five touchdowns in 2025."
Samuel (6'0", 215, 30 years old), the former San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders receiver, faced a transition last year in his first season in Washington.
From 2021-24 with the 49ers, Samuel only caught about 26% more balls than he carried with the 49ers. However, in 2025 with the Commanders, Samuel caught 76% more balls than he carried.
If this is the trajectory that Samuel is on now at 30 years old, it may buy him a couple of extra good years, but is he right for the Colts?
If the goal in Indianapolis is to field a fully functional offense right now and surround quarterback Daniel Jones with as much ready-made talent as possible, then Samuel should be considered an upgrade from Pittman.
In 2025, despite Samuel's average depth of target (5.5) being almost three yards shorter than Pittman's (8.4), Samuel had a higher rate of yards after catch per reception (6.5 vs. Pittman's 3.4) and yards per route run (1.66 vs. Pittman's 1.46).
Obviously, Samuel was getting more high-percentage throws than Pittman, but he was doing more with them.
In total, Samuel caught 72-of-99 targets for 727 yards (10.1 avg.) and five touchdowns to go with 17 carries for 75 yards (4.4 avg.) and another touchdown.
Pittman caught 80-of-111 targets for 784 yards (9.8 avg.) and seven touchdowns.
If the Colts would rather not spend a draft pick on a receiver and use it elsewhere on defense or to fortify the offensive line, then taking the route of a veteran receiver — perhaps someone like Samuel — is the likely path.