The Indianapolis Colts have been named as a team that could land some of the best wide receiver prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.
by Noah Compton
As the case has been over the last half decade or so, wide receiver talent at the top of the upcoming draft class will be in abundance. With upwards of 10 wide receivers making their way into first-round discourse, at least seven are consensus first-round talent.
With that being said, the Indianapolis Colts are in the market for another playmaker to pair with Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and Michael Pittman Jr., who is expected to be re-signed by Indy. Adding another chess piece for Anthony Richardson and Shane Steichen is imperative, so let’s see which receiver(s) Bleacher Report deemed as a best landing spot in Indianapolis.
Malik Nabers, LSU
Electric is what encompasses Malik Nabers as a football player. Nabers’ after-the-catch ability is among, if not the, best in the entire class. He can hit the whole route tree with a sudden twitch that constantly leaves defenders in the dust.
Be careful what you wish for if you decide to play man coverage on Malik Nabers because he will certainly make you pay. He may not have the highest ceiling of the WRs in this class, however, outside of Marvin Harrison Jr., there’s not a single WR prospect who is more ready to be thrown into an NFL offense than Nabers. Just your typical run-of-the-mill LSU wideout prospect.
Rome Odunze, Washington
Rome Odunze does things at 6-foot-3 that shouldn’t be done. He boasts the athleticism at his size to be a threat at every level of the field at the next level. As of now, it’s pretty much between Odunze and Nabers for the WR2 draft slot, however, with an impressive showing on the CFB’s biggest stage, the College Footall Playoff, could solidfy Odunze as WR2 to many scouts.
Odunze is more of an X-receiver, though his skillset after the catch paints a much larger picture for what he could become. Rome Odunze and/or Malik Nabers would likely be the surefire WR1 candidates in any other draft, but thanks to Marvin Harrison Jr., everyone is stuck battling for second.
Xavier Leggette, South Carolina
In a class of many high-caliber wide receiver prospects, Xavier Legette is among the most underrated. He is still projected as a fringe Day 1/2 prospect, which speaks to how talented he is.
Legette possesses a big-bodied frame of 6-foot-3, 227 pounds, and like Deebo Samuel in a way more than just his stature, Legette is a bonafied playmaker. SEC defensive coordinators rarely pressed him while at South Carolina thanks to his top of the class level release off the line.
Not only can he burn you off the line if in press coverage, but if you manage to stay with him through his route, chances are you’ll lose him at the stem of his route due to suddenness. Legette will time and time again be comped to Deebo Samuel, and for good reason. Both players are big-bodied playmakers who can lose you off breaks and runs like a runningback.
Keon Coleman, FSU
Keon Coleman (6-foot-4, 214 pounds) is your traditional 50-50 ball X-receiver who possesses enough athleticism to make him a threat after the catch. He shouldn’t be coined as just this though, as Coleman has more than enough nuance to raise his own ceiling with his release packages as well as his RAC-ability.
Before FSU’s QB Jordan Travis went down, Keon Coleman was the talk of the town. The MSU transfer started the year off hot but cooled off in the second half of the season. He may have not eclipsed 1,000 yards like he had likely hoped, though his 11 touchdowns are nothing to scoff at. Although teams will be evaluating Coleman to primarily be in their WR room, Coleman’s special teams prowess adds another layer to his prospect card.
Originally posted on horseshoeheroes.com