With training camp underway, Colts’ general manager Chris Ballard feels good about the wide receiver unit that he’s put around quarterback Anthony Richardson this season.
“One, I do like our set of weapons,” said Ballard on Wednesday. “I do like AD Mitchell. I like (Alec) Pierce. You know my feelings on (Michael) Pittman. And I think (Josh) Downs is really freaking good.”
Ultimately, what matters is how the team performs on Sundays, but it’s easy to see why Ballard feels this way.
Although Pierce has primarily been a downfield presence during his career, with 30 percent of his targets in 2023 coming 20-plus yards downfield, it’s his goal this summer to showcase his versatility and that he can impact other parts of the field.
Pittman, meanwhile, has been an uber-reliable target since arriving to Indianapolis. Regardless of the quarterback situation, Pittman has produced, culminating with 109 receptions and 1,152 receiving yards last season.
The addition of Mitchell will add a new element to the Colts’ offense with his 4.34 speed and the explosiveness he brings as a route runner. With that kind of speed, of course, Mitchell can win downfield, but his ability as a route runner allows him to be a viable threat at all levels of the field.
“I think he’s got a rare ability to separate at the top of routes. He’s got an arsenal of releases versus press man, you can see it show up on tape,” said Shane Steichen.
“He’s going to bring that speed element and that big-play ability too as well.”
As the Colts’ primary slot receiver, Downs would put together an impressive and what Ballard believes to be an under-the-radar rookie season.
He would finish last year with 771 receiving yards, while catching 72 percent of his targets with two touchdowns. Among all receivers from the slot, Downs had the seventh-most yards. On the Colts specifically, Downs led the team in missed tackles and average YAC per catch with 30 first downs and 10 receptions of 20 or more yards.
“I don’t think it got talked about enough last year what Downs was able to do,” added Ballard. “Downs did some freaking good things now, and I think he’s about to explode. So I do think we have enough weapons there.”
Between this group of wide receivers, having Jonathan Taylor healthy, and what should be a top tier offensive line unit, Ballard believes he’s been able to surround second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson with a lot of talent.
Realistically, with Richardson having only 98 career dropbacks and 84 total pass attempts, he’s still an inexperienced player who may go through some growing pains. However, with the players around him, success for the Colts’ offense won’t require him to do all of the heavy lifting.
“We liked all the stuff we saw, but he’s still got to go prove it over the course of time, like any player does,” said Ballard. “You can be a flash, but he’s still got to prove it over the course of time. But we think we got a good football team around him where he doesn’t necessarily have to carry us.”