The Indianapolis Colts did their homework on Marvin Harrison Jr. ESPN reported last week that the Colts were among the teams doing due diligence on the former No. 4 overall pick and would consider a trade, and the idea of Harrison following his father to Indianapolis was easy to sell. Instead, the Cardinals sent him to Houston, a division rival.
So, will the Colts add a receiver now? Nothing is imminent, but the need hasn’t gone away. Alec Pierce remains sidelined, and Indianapolis has until the Nov. 10 trade deadline to decide whether the current group is enough.
Why the Colts were looking
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK)
The Colts made a big bet on Pierce this offseason, but injuries have kept him off the field, and the passing game has felt the absence. Indianapolis already signed former Giants receiver Darius Slayton for depth.
The 34-22 loss in Pittsburgh showed how the group looks right now. Josh Downs played 60 snaps and Laquon Treadwell played 57, according to PFF. Keenan Allen returned to the lineup and earned an 80.8 overall grade on 32 snaps, the best among the team’s wideouts. Tight end Tyler Warren played 67 snaps and was the offense’s top receiving option.
What the Colts could do next
The simplest route is to wait. Allen’s return gives Daniel Jones a veteran target, and a bigger workload for Allen alongside Downs and Warren might be enough until Pierce is healthy. That path costs nothing, and it gives the Colts a few more weeks to learn Pierce’s timeline before the deadline.
A trade is still possible. The Colts showed they were willing to spend on a receiver, and the market will have other options as losing teams start selling closer to Nov. 10. The price will matter, though. Harrison went for a second-round pick, and a proven receiver on a better contract would cost at least that.
A free agent is the cheapest middle ground, and Slayton was exactly that kind of move.
At 2-3, the Colts host the winless Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. A strong passing day against Tennessee would ease the pressure. Another quiet one would make the trade deadline a much bigger deal for Indianapolis.
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