Tag: T.Y. Hilton

Grading T.Y. Hilton re-signing with the Colts: B

T.Y. Hilton is back, having reached a one-year deal to return to Indianapolis. Does the grade hang on what we see from Carson Wentz in 2021?

The Ghost is not going anywhere.

After testing the free agent waters, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is returning to the Indianapolis Colts. The veteran receiver is back on a one-year deal for $10 million, with $8 million of that guaranteed. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported out the terms per Hilton’s representatives.

Viewing the terms and looking at the season Hilton put on tape in 2019 — and the presence of his new quarterback — I think “cautious optimism” is perhaps the best way to frame this news. Hilton is a few seasons removed from some of his most productive years in the NFL, such as the 2016 campaign when he caught 91 passes for 1,448 yards and six touchdowns, and his evaluation might be clouded by the quarterback play this past season in Indianapolis, when Philip Rivers was perhaps running on fumes near the end. But when you dive into his film and ignore the numbers Hilton is still a dangerous weapon, even as a downfield target.

Hilton caught 56 passes this year on 93 targets for 76 yards and five touchdowns, but there were certainly opportunities for bigger plays that were left on the field. Take this post route against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where Hilton gets behind the coverage but the pass is slightly underthrown and intercepted:

Or this seam route where Hilton gets behind the coverage, but the throw is late and broken up:

As expected, other receivers drew the most attention early in free agency. A bet on Hilton now is a bet that the quarterback play in 2020 was more of the reason for the lack of production, and not the receiver himself. Looking ahead, however, that means that the Colts will need Carson Wentz to also be a better quarterback than he was a season ago. If not, Hilton’s return to the Colts might not live up to the new contract.

In that case, however, Hilton’s contract will be the least of the concerns in Indianapolis.

Contract details for T.Y. Hilton’s one-year deal with Colts

Details for the Ghost’s one-year deal.

The Indianapolis Colts agreed to terms on a one-year deal with wide receiver T.Y. Hilton on Wednesday, meaning the Ghost will be back wearing the horseshoe for at least one more season.

While the full details of the contract have yet to be revealed we do know some of the numbers pertaining to his deal. It’s a one-year deal worth $10 million with $8 million guaranteed, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

This is a solid deal for both sides. The Colts keep a solid WR2 with the versatility to work on the boundary or in the slot. With Michael Pittman Jr. expected to make the jump as the alpha in the wide receiver room, Hilton will be a strong complement while also giving new quarterback Carson Wentz a reliable target all over the field.

What Hilton plans to do after the 2021 season isn’t clear. He has said that a multi-year deal would be it for him in terms of a career. Whether this one-year deal pushes back those plans remains to be seen.

But the Colts needed to get some stability in the room for Hilton and now they have a veteran leader geared up for the 2021 season.

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Colts to re-sign WR T.Y. Hilton to one-year deal

Colts bring back T.Y. Hilton.

The Indianapolis Colts are re-signing wide receiver T.Y. Hilton to a one-year deal, first reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN.

From the start of the offseason, both the Colts and Hilton expressed their desire to come together on a contract. Though Indy let the veteran test the market to see his worth, the Ghost winds up back in the horseshoe to close out his career.

Despite a quiet free agency, this is a big a move for the offense. With new quarterback Carson Wentz under center, he will need all the help he can get. Hilton provides a reliable target for Wentz to work with early in his tenure with the Colts.

Hilton had a bit of a down year statistically in 2020 despite Philip Rivers’ strong campaign. He took a reduced role without saying a word and it led to him recording 56 receptions for 762 yards and five touchdowns.

Hilton re-joins a wide receiver room comprised of Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Pascal and Parris Campbell.

The top 5 remaining NFL free agents and where they might end up

Somebody give Richard Sherman a new home.

It’s been about a week since the start of the legal tampering period and free agency, allowing dozens of NFL players to find new homes and for teams to get contract extensions done with players just now hitting the market.

While there likely won’t many big-time contracts handed out, there are still quality players still left in free agency. This when teams will start to find one year, veteran starters or just quality depth to fill out the bottom of their roster prior to the draft.

Here are the top five remaining free agents, from our initial top 50 free agents for the season.

5 best WRs still remaining after the 1st wave of free agency

The Baltimore Ravens have shown interest in WRs and still need help. Here are the best WRs still available in 2021 NFL free agency

The Baltimore Ravens seemingly understand they need to address their wide receiver depth chart this offseason. Though both coach John Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta have talked up the team’s run-first philosophy all offseason, the Ravens showed a bit of interest in some of the bigger wide receiver names at the start of free agency, including offering JuJu Smith-Schuster good money. Unfortunately, they didn’t land anyone but that doesn’t mean they won’t continue to look with the first wave of free agency wrapped up.

In typical Baltimore fashion, the team could look to the second wave of free-agent wide receivers. Though they might not have the star power fans have been begging for, second-tier wide receivers offer the potential for more value. The second wave of free agents are often far cheaper but they can still fill a role well, potentially giving a budget-conscious team some serious return on investment.

Given the Ravens’ clear desire to add to the position this offseason, let’s take a look at the best wide receivers still remaining in free agency.

Colts players hint at T.Y. Hilton re-signing but no deal imminent

Some Colts players have taken to Twitter to hint at a potential T.Y. Hilton signing.

The Indianapolis Colts let wide receiver T.Y. Hilton test the market but a new contract could be on the way. At least, that’s the way some Colts players have been tweeting on Wednesday.

While nothing has been reported yet, a few Colts players have hinted that Hilton will be returning and likely ending his career with the team that drafted him back in 2012.

The most telling tweet came from cornerback Kenny Moore, who hinted they already got Hilton back.

Moore followed that up with this.

Then wide receiver Parris Campbell got in on the fun with Moore.

 

 

That said, Stephen Holder of The Athletic reported that no imminent deal is going down for the veteran wide receiver.

We will see what happens with the Colts and Hilton but maybe there is at least some momentum toward him returning.

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Colts want opportunity to match offers for T.Y. Hilton

Ballard hoping for a chance to match Hilton’s offers.

The Indianapolis Colts and wide receiver T.Y. Hilton appear to be far apart from a potential contract extension to the point where they are letting him test the free-agent market for the first time in his career.

Given the lowered salary-cap and the report that the Colts aren’t planning on re-signing any of their players before the new league year begins on Wednesday, this doesn’t come as a surprise.

But general manager Chris Ballard told Hilton that he’d like the chance to match any offer sent to Hilton by another team before he signs elsewhere.

https://twitter.com/JosinaAnderson/status/1371499029037727747

It makes sense and this isn’t all that newsworthy but it shows the continued narrative that the Colts do want Hilton back wearing the horseshoe. It just depends on what kind of market the veteran will see when he hits free agency.

The Colts currently have Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Pascal and Parris Campbell leading the room. There is no denying they need to add to the group in free agency, the draft or both. Whether that will involve Hilton remains in question.

Teams can begin contacting Hilton’s representatives as the legal tampering period opened on Monday so be sure to check back to see what the newest update on this situation is as the news comes through.

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Packers ‘could be in play’ for veteran free agent WR T.Y. Hilton

The Packers might have interest in free agent wide receiver T.Y Hilton when the new league year opens on Wednesday.

The Green Bay Packers might have their eyes on a veteran wide receiver in free agency.

According to Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN, the Packers and Miami Dolphins “could be in play” for free agent receiver T.Y. Hilton, signaling expected interest from the two teams when the new league year begins on Wednesday.

A four-time Pro Bowler, Hilton is entering free agency after catching 56 passes for 762 yards and five touchdowns with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020. He has five career 1,000-yard receiving seasons, although he’s been kept under 800 receiving yards each of the last two years.

The Packers may be looking for cheap veteran options in free agency, including at wide receiver. Over 30 years old and with declining production, Hilton isn’t likely to be an expensive player in 2021, possibly giving the Packers a chance to add an experienced veteran capable of giving the offense something new alongside Davante Adams, Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling at receiver.

Hilton, who turns 32 years old in November, played in 15 games last season after appearing in just 10 in 2019.

Hilton caught 60.2 percent of his targets and averaged 8.2 yards per target for the Colts in 2020. He produced five receiving touchdowns, giving him at least five scores in eight of his first nine NFL seasons.

Pro Football Focus ranked Hilton as the 22nd best receiver by overall grade in 2020.

The veteran receiver played the majority of his snaps as a perimeter receiver last season, but he can operate from the slot.

Hilton caught three passes for 36 yards in the Colts’ win over the Green Bay Packers in 2020. In eight games, he produced over 50 receiving yards.

Hilton will be an unrestricted free agent. The legal tampering period – when teams and players can agree on terms of new deals – begins on Monday.

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Dolphins, Packers potential landing spots for T.Y. Hilton?

Could Ghost be on the move?

The Indianapolis Colts are seemingly letting wide receiver T.Y. Hilton text the free-agent market for the first time in his career when the legal tampering period opens on Monday at noon.

In an update from ESPN detailing “everything they’re hearing” before free agency arrives, the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers were listed as potential suitors for Hilton.

Miami and Green Bay could be in play for former Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton, who caught 56 passes for 762 yards and five touchdowns last season.

The Dolphins makes a lot of sense for Hilton if he isn’t retained by the Colts. That’s where he grew up, he went to FIU and it would be a solid place to end his career.

The Packers are in desperate need of finding a WR2 to pair with Davante Adams, who continues to be one of the league’s premier wide receivers. Adding Hilton to the fray would give Aaron Rodgers another solid option as they look to take hold of the NFC.

We still have a few days until the new league year arrives but teams can negotiate with Hilton starting at noon on Monday. Will that turn into the end of Hilton’s tenure in Indy?

That much isn’t clear but Green Bay and Miami seem like strong suits for the veteran.

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Fantasy football free agency roundup

NFL free agency will drastically help reshape the fantasy football landscape as the new league year begins.

Now that NFL free agency is upon us, here is where we’ll run through the fantasy football outlooks for trades, re-signings, midrange players, and tag recipients.

This analysis will be updated as players sign/re-sign in free agency, so be sure to check back regularly.

Signed with new team or traded

RB Mark Ingram, Houston Texans: The 31-year-old inked a one-year, $2.5 million deal in Houston to pair with fellow well-aged runner David Johnson. The duo will create a one-two punch, so long as what we saw from Baltimore making Ingram a healthy scratch late last year wasn’t foreshadowing. Some of that was due to him not playing special teams and the team wanting to get a closer look at rookie J.K. Dobbins. Presuming quarterback Deshaun Watson returns, Ingram still has a dicey outlook. The Texans’ porous defense has so many needs that it’s tough to see the offense being able to consistently run the ball if the other side cannot contain opposing offenses. Ingram needs bulk to make a mark in fantasy lineups, which rarely will be the case, unless he finds regular success around the goal line, consider the veteran merely roster depth or a handcuff to Johnson.

Re-signed/extensions

QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: There’s no surprise associated with the four-year, $160 million extension Prescott signed prior to free agency opening. He wasn’t ever going to be allowed to leave the building, as evidenced by a formality of being tagged again. As long as his ankle rehab goes according to plan, this potential No. 1 overall fantasy quarterback has the tools to pick up where he left off.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers:While it’s technically an extension, Big Ben’s deal was reworked to provide cap relief for the Steelers and keep him in a black-and-yellow uni for one last go of it. Roethlisberger will almost assuredly be without WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Pittsburgh has a new offensive coordinator in Matt Canada, but there’s still enough to like about the situation for Roethlisberger to be in the conversation of a low-tier rotational starter.

QB Cam Newton, New England Patriots: The knee-jerk reaction is to scoff at Newton getting a one-year, $14 million deal to re-sign with the Pats. A closer look should elicit a more measured response. Last year, just about everything worked against Cam finding success. He signed late (June 28), there was no offseason program, the offensive system is intricate, New England lost several key players to the opt-out, the offensive line had to shuffle talent several times, no receivers to speak of, zero tight ends of consequence, an erratic rushing attack, and Newton was returning from foot surgery prior to joining New England. Excuses, you may say … perhaps, but all of those factors are undeniable reality. Newton is finally healthy after three straight offseasons of rehabbing from surgery. Wait to see how the Patriots address wide receiver and tight end concerns, but it’s unwise to entirely dismiss a rebound by Newton.

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QB Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team: The former Panther parlayed an admirable playoff start into a two-year extension in Washington. He knows the system and the brain trust’s nucleus from his time in Carolina. Alex Smith’s release opens the door for Heinicke to compete for a starting job while having the upper hand against a newcomer who won’t be as familiar with the playbook. It’s unlikely, however, Heinicke is the season-long starter for this offense as an incoming rookie or free-agent acquisition will have that momentum on his side.

Franchise/transition tagged

WR Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: No one paying attention expected the Buccaneers to allow Godwin to walk into free agency. Look for a stronger showing in 2021 after an injury-pocked season a year ago derailed Godwin’s campaign from nearly the onset. He’s a legit WR2 in all settings, but his upside is capped at that position overall with the bevy of talent around him in the passing game.

WR Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears: It seemed for quite some time that Chicago wouldn’t have the cap space to tag Robinson, but he was indeed slapped with the tender of $17-plus million for 2021. While he would like a long-term deal, and the team may still yet find a way to meet his demands by July 15, there also remains a chance this could get ugly. Robinson doesn’t want to play on the tag, nor must he sign the tender. He then wouldn’t play or get paid, so there’s that, and $17.89 mill is nothing to sneeze at during an offseason in which the salary cap actually goes down. At 27, Robinson could put his John Hancock on the offer sheet and still hit free agency in 2022 young enough to get one last shot at a huge deal when teams will have more money to throw around. Long story short, he mostly is quarterback-proof, but Chicago still needs to put a better product on the field. Whether it is Nick Foles or someone else under center in 2021, A-Rob is a viable PPR WR1 with a hint of downside.

Remains unsigned

  • Quarterbacks: Alex Smith, Mitchell Trubisky, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jameis Winston, Jacoby Brissett
  • Running backs: Aaron Jones, Chris Carson, Kenyan Drake, Todd Gurley, Duke Johnson, Tevin Coleman, James White, Matt Breida, Brian Hill, Leonard Fournette, Malcolm Brown, Jerick McKinnon, Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell, Kalen Ballage, James Conner, Marlon Mack, Wayne Gallman, Jamaal Williams, Mike Davis
  • Wide receivers: A.J. Green, T.Y. Hilton, Emmanuel Sanders, Larry Fitzgerald, Golden Tate, DeSean Jackson, Adam Humphries, Sammy Watkins, Marvin Jones, John Brown, Breshad Perriman, Corey Davis, Willie Snead, John Ross, Keelan Cole, Kendrick Bourne, Will Fuller, Demarcus Robinson, Antonio Brown, Curtis Samuel, Damiere Byrd, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Nelson Agholor, Rashard Higgins, David Moore, Kenny Golladay
  • Tight ends: Hunter Henry, Rob Gronkowski, Kyle Rudolph, Jared Cook, Tyler Eifert, Gerald Everett, Jordan Reed, Jonnu Smith, Trey Burton