Indianapolis Colts Could Trade This Intriguing Young Playmaker

The Indianapolis Colts have done a wonderful job of upgrading the talent around their prized young quarterback, Anthony Richardson. The team was able to sign running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman to extensions, locking in their two best playmakers.

In the last three drafts, they have spent premium capital on pass catchers as well. In 2022, they selected wide receiver Alec Pierce in the second round out of Cincinnati. In 2023, it was Josh Downs in the third round out of North Carolina.

This year, the Indianapolis Colts selected Adonai Mitchell out of Texas in the second round. This is a deep, talented group of young wide receivers that Chris Ballard has put together, as the unit can grow for years to come under Shane Steichen.

However, Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report does wonder whether a trade could be made involving one of the pass catchers. He recently put together a piece highlighting one player every team in the league could look to trade during the preseason.

For the Colts, his selection was Pierce. Durability hasn’t been an issue for Pierce, who has played in 33 games in his first two seasons in the NFL. But, production has been sporadic, as inconsistency has plagued him.

“His development has not been as rapid or impactful as the Colts might have hoped as a former second round selection, ultimately limiting his ability to contribute significantly to the team’s success in the short term. However, with Anthony Richardson at the helm, Pierce’s potential for a high target share and success remains a high possibility,” Fowler wrote.

The ceiling for Indianapolis is certainly high with Richardson under center given his immense potential. But there is a lot of competition for targets in the passing game this season.

Along with the aforementioned playmakers, the Colts also have tight ends Jelani Woods and Mo-Alie Cox who figure to be involved in the passing game plan. If the Colts want to make a move, Fowler believes Pierce possesses some value.

“Pierce’s trade value is likely still relatively high due to his age, physical traits, and potential. A trade could allow the Colts to maximize his value before it diminishes if he continues to underperform or struggles to adapt to the offensive structure. In a league where roster flexibility and capitalizing on player value are crucial for long-term success, moving on from Pierce in exchange for assets could be a prudent decision,” wrote Fowler.

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