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Colts Hosted Two of Draft's Most Explosive Playmakers This Week
The Indianapolis Colts had visits with two of the best playmaking wide receivers in the NFL Draft this week.
The upcoming NFL Draft is a crucial one for several franchises in the league, one of them being the Indianapolis Colts. After a solid 9-8 finish (given the season's circumstances), Indy will look to add more talent for Shane Steichen's second season as the head coach. However, the offense needs more explosive elements to help catapult quarterback Anthony Richardson to reach his maximum potential.
With only days until the draft starts, it's been reported that the Colts have hosted two players who bring some of the most explosive playmaking ability in this year's draft in Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy and LSU's Malik Nabers.
Indianapolis has shown serious interest in Worthy and even sent the likes of Steichen, offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, and wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne to Worthy's pro day. Clearly, Indianapolis wants to do their complete homework on Worthy, leaving no stone unturned. After posting blistering numbers at the Scouting Combine, it's worth looking at his career numbers while at Texas.
Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) runs the ball down the sideline during the Big 12
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In three seasons, he compiled 39 games, 197 catches, 2,755 receiving yards, and 26 touchdowns. Something else to note is the consistency, not dipping below 60 catches in any season. Worthy would be a fiery addition to a Steichen offense, but so would other receivers in this stacked class.
Nabers was outstanding at LSU, posting 89 catches for 1,569 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023 alone. There is no question that he is the better-ranked prospect than Worthy, which means he may go earlier in the draft than the Texas prospect. While it's exciting to see the news that Indy hosted Nabers for a visit, it's more than likely to do all their homework in the event that he falls in round one.
Malik Nabers (8) runs the ball after a catch as the LSU Tigers take on the the Army Black Knights in
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If the Colts are serious about pursuing the LSU weapon, they likely need to execute a trade up into the top 10 to acquire him. Regardless of the reasoning, it is intriguing to think about Nabers in a Colts uniform with Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Jonathan Taylor on offense.
The Bottom Line
Worthy and Nabers each have a different projected draft scenario for the Colts. For Worthy, Indy can likely get him if they trade back into the 20s, while Nabers would probably warrant a trade package to get into the top five, or 10 range.
Worthy and Nabers fit Indianapolis in different ways and could change the offense for the future. What will Indianapolis do with the information they've collected on these offensive playmakers? Will they trade up for Nabers, stay put at 15, or trade back for Worthy? Time will tell, and the time for the NFL Draft is fast approaching.
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