Though they have been quiet to begin free agency, the Indianapolis Colts are set to bring in wide receiver Devin Funchess, who brings some upside to a position that needs an infusion of depth.
Preferring to build through the draft, the Colts are still in play to add a wide receiver by the end of April, but how does the signing of Funchess impact their plans for the 2019 draft?
There are many draft pundits and analysts that believe the Colts are going to spend their first-round pick on a wide receiver. Though it isn’t entirely out of the question, it is highly unlikely general manager Chris Ballard will do so, especially after bringing in Funchess.
That’s not saying Funchess is guaranteed to be the WR2 behind T.Y. Hilton but given Ballard’s preference to use top picks at more valuable positions, it’s hard to see the Colts being a team that will invest that heavily in the wide receiver position.
With the addition of Funchess, the Colts brought in a young player that has the upside of being a solid WR2 on the outside while also being a red-zone target for quarterback Andrew Luck.
The one-year deal can allow the Colts to wait on drafting a wide receiver until the middle and late rounds. Ballard has never truly been a general manager that places much value in drafting wide receivers early, and this signing likely gives him enough confidence to wait.
Harping on speed and athleticism, there will be a variety of high-upside prospects the Colts could target late on Day 2 and throughout all of Day 3 in the draft.
Prospects like Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell could be wide receivers the Colts target later on Day 2. Should they wait longer, players like Myles Boykin, Emanuel Hall and Jakobi Meyers might be of intrigue as potential Day 3 picks.
Even with the signing of Funchess, the Colts are still in the market to add a wide receiver in the draft.
However, the addition of the 24-year-old might give Ballard enough confidence to wait on a wide receiver during the draft, rather than spending one of his three top-60 picks on a prospect at the wide receiver position.
