There’s a way better alternative for the Indianapolis Colts despite head-scratching workout decision
The Indianapolis Colts are seemingly looking for help at wide receiver. But they should be targeting a different name instead of their workout invite.
The Indianapolis Colts have some solid playmakers in their hands but with quarterback Daniel Jones under an $88 million contract, it only makes sense to add more. But a recent workout of Chase Claypool, who hasn’t played an NFL game since 2023, isn’t particularly inspiring.
Instead, the Colts should be looking at another wide receiver that’s been on the minds of fans and media for months. And it just so happens he has a relationship to Colts head coach Shane Steichen.
Colts should sign WR Keenan Allen
With Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce starting training camp on PUP (Physically Unable to Perform), it only make sense to look at the wide receiver market and see who is out there. One veteran who makes plenty of sense is Keenan Allen, a five-time Pro Bowler.
It’s true, Allen is well past his prime. But he’s also fresh off of back-to-back 700+ yard seasons in which he combined for 11 touchdowns. He’s also not that far removed from a 1,243-yard season in 2023.
Back in June, The Athletic’s James Boyd reported Allen was a name to keep an eye out for when it came to the Colts. Keep in mind, the veteran receiver overlapped with Steichen in the Chargers back in 2019 and 2020.
Allen wouldn’t be asked for too much
In a recent episode of the Colts Squad Show, team expert Zach Hicks brought up a great point about the value Allen could bring to the table.
“We look at the overall role that he’d potentially have to replace with Michael Pittman Jr.,” Hicks argues. “It wasn’t this role where he has to be this super diverse route tree and go win isolation routes and go beat guys in man coverage. It was really just a zone-beating route tree that’s going to run more slants and dig routes, occasional dig routes, drag routes over the middle, little curl routes there, finding the space in zone coverage.”
In other words, Allen can be a plug-and-play receiver for the Colts. Even more so thanks to his knowledge of Steichen’s language. Behind Pierce and Josh Downs, Allen has serious WR3 potential for Indy.
Projected cost
At 34 years old, Allen is likely looking for a one-year deal with whichever NFL team he ends up signing with. Spotrac currently projects him to sign a one-year deal worth $6.8 million. The Colts, sitting at over $31 million in cap space, could easily make something work.
One thing is more than clear: Allen makes much more sense than Claypool, who hasn’t been a serious contribiutor to any team since 2021. Let’s get serious here and bring in a battle-tested veteran for Jones.
