NFL Analysis Network

Colts Predicted To Sign WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling In Free Agency

The Indianapolis Colts 2021 season was bookended by disasters. They started the season off losing their first three games and opening 1-4, digging themselves an early hole. Indianapolis was able to climb out of it and put itself in a prime position to make the postseason.

They won eight of their next 10 games, pushing their record to 9-6 on the season. Wins over the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals at the end of that stretch had many people feeling as if the Colts were the one team you didn’t want to face in the postseason.

Needing a win against the Las Vegas Raiders or Jacksonville Jaguars to essentially seal up a postseason berth, it seemed like a foregone conclusion they would qualify. The Colts ended up losing both games, ruining all of the work they did in the middle of the season to get back on track.

A lot of the blame has been placed on Carson Wentz, who was unable to step his game up when the team needed him most. His Week 18 performance against the Jaguars was his worst game of the season and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

While he does deserve some of the blame, some should also be put on the front office for the weapons he was provided. Michael Pittman Jr. emerged as a true No. 1 receiver, but there was little else to count on behind him.

T.Y. Hilton and Parris Campbell battled injuries throughout the season. The team is high on the youthful Campbell, but how many chances can you get? That is why over at CBS Sports, they believe the Colts will dive headfirst into the wide receiver free agency market and come away with Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

They are predicting Valdes-Scantling to sign a two-year deal worth $20.5 million to leave the Green Bay Packers. Given the salary cap situation in Green Bay, it wouldn’t be too shocking if a team was able to sign him away with a sizable deal such as the one the Colts are predicted to land him with.

Valdes-Scantling is one of the premier deep threats currently in the league. He has averaged 17.5 yards per reception in his career, using his blazing speed and size to his advantage. With the Colts, he would have the opportunity to round out his game more with Pittman being the only player ahead of him on the depth chart.

Going from Aaron Rodgers to Wentz would be a sizable downgrade, but Wentz is willing to take shots downfield. He had more 30, 40 and 50+ yard pass attempts than Josh Allen in 2021. It would not be a surprise if that number rose with a player such as Valdes-Scantling in the mix as the Colts didn’t have a prototypical field stretcher for a majority of the season with Hilton banged up.

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