There are many needs the Indianapolis Colts will have to address this offseason and chiefly among them is the wide receiver position.
With an aging T.Y. Hilton and not much proven behind him, the Colts will once again look to add to the wide receiver room. Speed has become a trend at the position, but the Colts will also be looking for high-upside targets in the 2020 NFL draft.
Though it is still months away, our friends over at Draft Wire have released their early wide receiver rankings. Let’s take a look at the top 20:
1. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
2. CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
3. Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
4. Tee Higgins, Clemson
5. Laviska Shenault, Jr., Colorado
6. Justin Jefferson, LSU
7. Jalen Reagor, TCU
8. Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
9. Michael Pittman Jr., USC
10. K.J. Hill, Ohio State
The wide receiver group is truly a strong class this season. Anyone of the top five wide receivers could go in the first round this draft. The exciting ones the Colts would have to target at No. 13 are Jeudy, Lamb and Ruggs.
However, there is a chance that doesn’t come to fruition. Chris Ballard doesn’t seem like the type of general manager that wants to spend that high on a wide receiver, and all three could be gone by the time the Colts are on the clock.
Jefferson is an intriguing option for the Colts at No. 34 in the second round. He has the type of skill set that would fit perfectly into the Colts’ offensive scheme.
Here’s a look at the wide receivers ranked 11–20 from Draft Wire:
11. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan
12. K.J. Hamler, Penn State
13. Denzel Mims, Baylor
14. Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
15. Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty
16. John Hightower, Boise State
17. Tyler Johnson, Minnesota
18. Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky
19. Collin Johnson, Texas
20. Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
These are players that have intriguing upside with some development needed and likely aren’t going to go before round three. There are some potential options for the Colts here.
Mims had a solid Senior Bowl while Claypool could be a good fit for the offense.
The Colts are unlikely to take a wide receiver in the first round. That’s just not how Ballard rolls. But don’t be surprised if one or two of these players is in a Colts uniform in 2020.