Trade plan has Colts swapping four draft picks for a powerful WR

If the Indianapolis Colts want to improve their wide receiver depth early in the 2024 NFL Draft, they will most likely need to trade up to obtain one of the top prospects.

That’s why Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox compiled a trade package that might propel Indianapolis into the top ten of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Knox sees the Colts trading a 2024 first-round pick, a third-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and a 2025 third-round pick to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Chicago’s 2024 first-round pick (ninth overall).

Though Knox does not go into detail regarding which receiver the Colts should draft with the ninth overall pick, he believes that being in the top ten will allow Indianapolis to select one of the top three receiver prospects: Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze, or Malik Nabers. He also mentions TE Brock Bowers as a possible choice.

“It feels unlikely that all four of the top pass-catchers will fall out of the top 10, even if four quarterbacks are in that range,” Knox wrote in a post on March 29. “If the Patriots and Giants do not sign signal-callers, they should be looking for receivers. The Atlanta Falcons could potentially look for another playmaker to complement Kirk Cousins.

Colts Need Another Consistent Playmaker Opposite Michael Pittman Jr.

Knox’s deal might materialize simply because the Colts need a consistent playmaker to complement receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in the passing game.

Alec Pierce, a 2022 second-round pick, may provide a spark downfield for Indy’s attack. However, at this point in his career, he is too inconsistent to play 95% of the team’s offensive snaps, as he did in 2023.

Providing second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson with as many pass-catchers as possible will give him the best chance of success. However, given the team’s current draft position, it will be difficult to find a receiver on Day 1 of the selection.

Many of the top receiver prospects are expected to go in the top 10 or bottom 12 picks of the first round. So, the Colts, who now have the 15th overall pick, are in a situation where drafting a receiver other than Harrison, Odunze, or Nabers with the 15th overall pick would be considered a stretch by many. The same is true for selecting any tight end other than Bowers.

Moving up in the draft to grab one of the top three WR prospects is worth the effort. Harrison, Odunze, and Nabers are some of the top receiver prospects we’ve seen in recent years, as is Bowers among tight ends.

When one of these players teams up with Pittman, Richardson’s potential skyrockets.

Michael Pittman Jr. Gifts Parents New Cars

After signing a three-year, $70 million agreement with the Colts, Pittman made one of his first major expenditures for his parents.

Pittman gave his mother a Cadillac and his father a Porsche, according to an Instagram post by the Colts wide out.

Pittman captioned her post, “I’ve been fantasizing about this moment since I started playing football. I’m beyond grateful to these two.”

Looks like #Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. made his first big purchases after inking a three-year, $70 million extension earlier this month.

A Porsche for his dad and a Cadillac for his mom.

Via IG: “I’ve been dreaming about this moment ever since I started playing football.” pic.twitter.com/doTjU2Alqa

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) March 31, 2024