The Indianapolis Colts have some solid options to address their needs at receiver.
The Indianapolis Colts lack a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, but their resources to address needs — draft capital and salary cap space — will potentially grow by the time the draft arrives on April 23.
Indy currently has seven picks in the draft, but they have two veterans on the trade block: quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. and cornerback Kenny Moore II, which will likely bring them extra draft picks (albeit late ones) if traded before the draft starts.
The Colts' $26.6 million in salary cap space will also expand if the Colts can trade Richardson (about $5.3 million) or Moore ($7 million).
Recently, Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports identified wide receiver as one of the Colts' most significant needs and presented them with two options to address the need: free agent Jauan Jennings from the San Francisco 49ers and Eric McAlister from TCU.
"In keeping Alec Pierce, the Colts lost Michael Pittman Jr. Pierce is a big-play threat who added some nuance to his game in 2025, and Josh Downs is an elusive slot man with some downfield pep," Pereles wrote. "Pittman was the reliable, tough-yards guy. With no first-round pick, the Colts could consider McAlister, whose pro comparison in the draft prospect rankings is ... Jennings."
Nov 29, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Eric McAlister (1) attempts to elude Cincinnati Bearcats cornerback Logan Wilson (7) during the first quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesMcAlister (6'4", 194, 23 years old) was a productive four-year player for Boise State and TCU, who is a height-weight-speed prospect who can be found late in the draft, perhaps with one of the Colts' two picks in the seventh round. He offers some of Mitchell's length and explosiveness, while lacking physicality all the same. McAlister isn't much of a replacement for Pittman, as Pittman is a big, physical player who absorbs punishment and moves the chains.
Jennings (6'3", 212, 28) would be more of the Pittman replacement. He's big, tough over the middle, and is a plus player in contested catch situations like Pittman is. Jennings is projected to get around $15 million-plus per year on the open market.
The Colts traded away second-year project AD Mitchell to the New York Jets last November when they traded for cornerback Sauce Gardner. Then, this March, the Colts traded Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mitchell was a modest loss in the present, but it's impactful for the future, as the hope was that he would eventually be the team's top receiver. Pittman, however, was a second-round pick in 2020 and was the team's best player at receiver from about 2020-23.
Pittman signed a lucrative extension with the Colts in the 2024 offseason but suffered a back injury early in the season that drastically affected his play. He then fell into the mix in 2025 with Alec Pierce and Tyler Warren ascending to prominent positions in the passing game.