The Indianapolis Colts are heading into one more offseason with questions on the huge receiver place. Michael Pittman Jr is solidified as the highest possibility, nevertheless it’s an open battle for the roles behind him.

Inside that open battle, it’s pretty protected to say that Parris Campbell, Alec Pierce, and Ashton Dulin are heading into the offseason as roster locks. All three ought to have a outstanding function on the staff and their spots should not be in an excessive amount of hazard from the gamers behind them. Nonetheless, with 4 spots primarily locked in, that does go away fairly a battle for the ultimate 1-2 spots on the place.

At this time, I dive into the professionals and cons of the primary contenders for these last roster spots and talk about how every participant can exceed expectations in 2022.

Dezmon Patmon

Background: Patmon was chosen with the 212th decide of the 2020 draft. He has spent the final two years on the Colts’ energetic roster, nevertheless, he has solely appeared in a complete of 9 video games (solely taking part in 66 offensive snaps). For his profession, he has totaled two catches for 21 yards and a landing on 4 targets.

Quotes: (T.Y Hilton on Patmon’s work ethic again in December)

A man simply staying prepared, he’s all the time asking questions within the assembly room. Even in walk-thru, he’s studying the script, going over the performs in his head. He’s taking these reps mentally after which when he’s on the market he’s in a position to play freely and perceive the place we’d like him at, the spots we’d like him at.

Professionals: Patmon is a big-bodied receiver that has spent numerous time with the Colts, regardless of not often seeing the sphere. The staff has been slow-playing his improvement, however it’s time for him to indicate every little thing that he has discovered in 12 months three.

By way of uncooked expertise, Patmon could also be the most effective of the underside of the roster receivers on the staff. He was extremely productive in school and has the power to play both the ‘X’ or the ‘Z’ receiver positions. His versatility and information of the playbook ought to result in some extra appears in 2022. If he can proceed to construct on his improvement this offseason, it would not be shocking to see him get some run with the primary staff in camp.

Cons: As I discussed above, it’s a make-or-break offseason for Patmon. Day three receivers have a particularly brief lifespan within the NFL, which implies it’s time for Patmon’s improvement to start out displaying up through the common season. One other factor hurting him is particular groups. Ashton Dulin has routinely outsnapped him on offense through the years as a result of Dulin is definitely energetic on gameday.

If Patmon cannot show his value on particular groups this offseason, he could possibly be at risk of dropping his spot on the 53-man roster.

Mike Strachan

Background: Strachan was chosen with the 229th decide within the 2021 NFL Draft. Regardless of popping out of a small D-II college, the Colts determined to take an opportunity on the speedy 6’4″ huge receiver in spherical seven. He did not see the sphere an excessive amount of in 12 months one, showing in simply six video games for the staff. He has totaled two catches for 26 yards on three targets in his NFL profession.

Quotes: (Frank Reich again in December on Strachan’s rookie 12 months)

It’s been good. He’s continued to do a very good job on the scout staff, in drills and dealing exhausting. Very excessive on Mike (Strachan). Issues have been going fairly nicely at that place for us. We now have confidence in him. If for some purpose any person bought dinged and we wanted Mike to be able to go, now we have confidence that he would be capable of play successful soccer.

Professionals: Strachan is a H/W/S freak at receiver that has sky-high upside. When he noticed the sphere early final season, he was in a position to make a couple of performs that have been eye opening for the followers at residence. His taking part in time steadily decreased because the 12 months went alongside, nevertheless it was removed from an terrible rookie 12 months for a seventh spherical participant.

If Strachan can present a greater grasp of the playbook heading into 12 months two, he may simply take the WR5 (and even the WR4) job in camp. He has additionally proven a newfound dedication to particular groups, in response to my colleague Jake Arthur, which ought to assist him come roster cutdown day.

Cons: For all the positives I simply talked about above, he has to indicate that improvement is transferring alongside going into 12 months two. If the identical struggles persist in 12 months two that confirmed up in 12 months one (primarily with the playbook), he might not make the staff. As I discussed with Patmon, Strachan has a brief leash within the league as a late day three decide.

If he does present optimistic strides in camp, it is going to be exhausting for the staff to maintain this particular athlete off of the roster. He has to truly present these strides although, on each particular groups and as a receiver.

Keke Coutee

Background: Coutee is a former fourth spherical decide that began his profession with the Houston Texans. He bought off to a fiery begin with staff, totaling 941 yards on 83 catches in his first three seasons. He was surprisingly launched after his third season, and spent most of final 12 months on the Colts’ apply squad. He appeared in two video games for Indy, making one catch for 5 yards.

Professionals: Coutee is by far and away essentially the most skilled of the underside of the roster receivers on the staff. He’s additionally essentially the most athletic and the one that’s finest suited to play within the slot. He has quite a bit going for him on this battle and if he can get again to his 2020 kind, he ought to be capable of solidify a spot on the roster.

Cons: The most important subject with Coutee was his consistency and accidents. He went via cold and hot stretches with the Texans, generally not seeing the sphere for a very good size of time as a result of his miscues. He has all the expertise on the planet, but when he cannot discover strong floor early within the offseason, he’ll seemingly be simply one other camp physique.

DeMichael Harris

Background: Harris was an undrafted free agent within the 2020 NFL Draft. He has surprisingly seen a good quantity of snaps within the NFL, showing in 10 video games (120 snaps) for the Colts over the previous two seasons. He has totaled 79 yards receiving and 46 yards speeding on 16 touches within the NFL.

Quotes: N/A

Professionals: Harris is sort of a mixture of the strengths that Keke Coutee brings and the upside that Dezmon Patmon brings. Harris has proven good issues within the NFL, regardless of not often seeing the sphere a 12 months in the past. He has additionally confirmed that he can deal with a few of the gadget/beneath performs that Parris Campbell will get (when Campbell is on the sphere). He could also be an extended shot on this battle, however Harris does have some upside to be careful for.   

Cons: It’s exhausting to seek out the promoting level for him on this battle. He is not as quick or as skilled as Coutee, and he does not have the insane upside {that a} participant like Michael Strachan has. With out that agency promoting level to make him stick, Harris goes to must have a powerful camp on particular groups to make the opening day roster.

Remaining Ideas

It’s straightforward to sit down again and name the Colts’ receiver group weak on paper. It’s a pretty inexperienced group that lacks a lot (if any) NFL manufacturing. This group is, nevertheless, extraordinarily attention-grabbing. Parris Campbell and Alec Pierce ought to be contributors (in the event that they keep wholesome) and Ashton Dulin has proven promise previously.

Behind these guys, Michael Strachan and Dezmon Patmon have been creating for this chance. It could be a bit a lot to crown both participant as a contributor at this level, however the door is clearly open for each gamers to earn their spot. In a league that finds loads of hidden gems within the later rounds, I’ve no downside seeing what these two athletic freaks can do in camp with Matt Ryan.

Observe Zach on Twitter @ZachHicks2.

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