The Indianapolis Colts seem to be preparing themselves to take a wide receiver early during the 2020 NFL draft after the big moves they made during free agency.
While Chris Ballard’s plan is unknown, there is no denying the Colts need help in the wide receiver room. One of the most intriguing prospects for the Colts in the draft is Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool.
As ESPN’s Matt Bowen looked at the best fit for wide receivers in the draft, he listed the Colts as being the best landing spot for Claypool.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 238 | School: Notre Dame
Where the Colts could get him: Round 2 (No. 34 or 44)
Why he fits: Claypool is rising after he ran a 4.42 40 at 238 pounds at the combine. And with that freakish speed and big frame to go up and get the ball, he’d fit in Indianapolis with Philip Rivers throwing to him in Frank Reich’s system. The Colts can scheme throws underneath to get Claypool open on crossers and shallows, and Rivers could target him outside on 50-50 throws with vertical shots or play the matchups in the red zone.
Claypool has rare size and speed, and he has some position flexibility in the game plan to complement veteran speedster T.Y. Hilton and 2019 second-round pick Parris Campbell, whose rookie season was cut short due to injury.
Claypool is certainly intriguing for the Colts. He would be a mismatch anywhere on the field and his explosion at the NFL combine shows he has the athletic profile to line up either as a tight end or a wide receiver.
How the Colts would want to use him remains to be seen. They have a need at both wide receiver and tight end. They could simply use Claypool as a flex tight end, which would essentially make him another receiver.
Claypool would be a nice addition for the Colts offense assuming he could get acclimated quickly and is likely on the team’s radar when the second round begins.