The Indianapolis Colts already added one veteran target for Daniel Jones, but there’s another familiar name out there who could make sense if they want more help at receiver.
With Keenan Allen signed less than a month before the regular season, the Colts’ top end at wideout looks set for now. Alec Pierce and Josh Downs sit atop the depth chart, Allen slots in behind them, and the rest of the room includes Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell and rookie Alec Burks. That’s a crowded group, but not necessarily one that closes the door on another move.
Darius Slayton just became available after a late release from the Giants, and that immediately creates a possible fit. He’s not a headline-grabbing star, but he is a proven veteran with seven years in the league, 296 catches, more than 4,000 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. For a team looking for experienced depth on a one-year deal, that profile usually gets attention.
Josina Anderson reported that multiple teams have already shown interest in Slayton, though the Colts were not named specifically. Even so, there are obvious reasons Indianapolis should at least consider him. The wide receiver room lost six players at the roster cut deadline, including Anthony Gould and Nick Westbrooke-Ikhine, so the depth behind the top trio is not exactly overflowing.
And then there’s the Daniel Jones connection. Jones and Slayton spent six seasons together in New York, and that kind of familiarity matters, especially this late in the process. Of Slayton’s 4,000-plus career receiving yards, 3,897 came with Jones throwing him the ball.
Slayton would not walk in as a No. 1, No. 2, or even a clear-cut No. 3 option. But he would give the Colts a better backup plan than what they currently have after Pierce, Downs and Allen, and he’d give Jones a receiver he already knows how to trust.
Allen’s presence also changes the calculation. With one of the NFL’s all-time reception leaders now in the building - Allen is 13th all-time with 1,055 catches and closing in on the top five - Slayton may not be a priority for Indianapolis. But if the Colts do want another receiver, he’s the kind of player who would fit cleanly.
At the very least, adding him would not hurt. And if Jones has any say in the matter, he’d probably be on board. The only real question is whether the Colts want to act before somebody else does.
In Other News...
Colts Week 1 Matchup Just Changed In A Big Way
The Colts Week 1 trip to Baltimore already had plenty of intrigue, and now the matchup looks a little different up front. Ravens defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike will not play after a neck injury required surgery, a notable loss for a defense that likes to set the tone in the trenches. For Indianapolis, that could matter immediately, especially in a game where Jonathan Taylor and the Colts run game figure to be central to the plan.
Indianapolis still has its own questions to sort through, of course, with DeForest Buckner anchoring one side of the line and Quenton Nelson again set to be a major factor in how the offense holds up. Tanor Bortolini is part of that conversation too as the Colts keep working through the details that always matter in an opener. But Madubuikes absence removes one of Baltimores most disruptive pieces, and it gives the Colts a little more room to attack a test that was never going to be simple. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Add A Defensive Piece Theyve Wanted For A While
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Gushikens immediate task is less about making a splash and more about absorbing the Colts defensive playbook as quickly as possible. For a player coming in after training camp, the challenge is jumping from a different system into one that can ask plenty from the nickel spot, and the early focus will be on getting comfortable enough to help wherever the coaching staff needs him most. [Read more 🡒]
3 Colts Who Could Decide Whether Week 1 Gets Away Fast
The Colts do not have to look far to find the players whose first regular-season snaps could say a lot about how far this opener can go. Jalen Travis is moving into a full-time starting job at right tackle, Arden Key is part of the defensive end rotation the defense will lean on against Baltimore, and Justin Walley is set to open the year as the nickel cornerback after missing his rookie season because of injury.
Each one is stepping into a role that carries more weight than a normal Week 1 assignment. Travis has to help stabilize the edge, Key has to bring dependable pressure and run support, and Walley has to hold up in the slot in a game where the Ravens can force defenses to cover every inch of the field. If one of those spots wobbles early, the Colts could be chasing the game fast, and the way those three handle the moment may matter well beyond Sunday. [Read more 🡒]