ESPN ranks all 32 teams (including Colts) by wide receiver units (2024)

Paul Bretl

June 9, 2024 9:02 am ET

ESPNput together its ranking of all 32 wide receiver units ahead of the 2024 NFL season. Where did the Colts end up on this list?

With Michael Pittman and Josh Downs, the Colts entered the 2024 offseason with a very well established wide receiver room. Regardless of the situation at quarterback, Pittman has produced throughout his career, which includes eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in two of the last three seasons. Downs, meanwhile, would record 771 yards and two scores during his rookie season playing primarily from the slot.

However, from the very beginning of the offseason, it was known that adding more playmaking around Anthony Richardson was very high on the to-do list. The Colts finished last season ranked 24th in explosive pass plays.

Now, of course, having Richardson back under center will help with that, but with Downs averaging 11.3 yards per catch in 2023 and Pittman 10.6 yards per catch over his career, more juice was also needed.

Enter Adonai Mitchell who comes to the NFL with plenty of big game experience, having played in the College Football Playoffs all three of his collegiate seasons, along with adding a different element to the offense with his 4.34 speed.

Mitchell can immediately add to the Colts’ downfield passing game–an important aspect for Shane Steichen’s offense. Not only will he create big plays for himself, but his presence can open up opportunities for Pittman and Downs over the middle and underneath.

However, Mitchell is far more than just a deep threat. He is a fairly refined route-runner, allowing him to impact all levels of the field. Mitchell has true No. 1 wide receiver potential. Mitchell has already flashed his playmaking ability regularly during OTAs and minicamp.

“The explosiveness that he comes off the ball and wins one-on-ones,”said Steichenduring OTAs. “I mean he’s been making a ton of plays out here the last couple of days. He’s going to bring an element to our offense that we’re really excited about.”

In addition to Pittman, Downs, and Mitchell, the Colts also have Alec Pierce, who is entering his third NFL season. With the addition of Mitchell, Pierce’s playing time is in danger of getting reduced, but it’s his goal to earn more opportunities to showcase his versatility this season.

In addition to Mitchell, the Colts drafted Anthony Gould, a 2022 All-American as a return man. Still working his way back from an ACL injury is Ashton Dulin, who has been a core special teams contributor. Also on the roster at receiver is Tyrie Cleveland, Ethan Fernea, DJ Montgomery, Dereky Slywka, Xavier White, and Juwann Winfree.

Now, on to ESPN’s rankings–here is where the Colts’ wide receivers rank among the rest of the NFL:

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32. New England Patriots

Feb 3, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of a New England Patriots helmet against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk, JuJu Smith-Schuster, K.J. Osborn

31. Los Angeles Chargers

Oct 22, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Los Angeles Chargers helmet against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Ladd McConkey, Josh Palmer, Quentin Johnston, DJ Chark, Derius Davis

30. Buffalo Bills

Jan 24, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Buffalo Bills helmet in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mack Hollins

29. Pittsburgh Steelers

Jun 12, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A Pittsburgh Steelers helmet sits on the field during minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

George Pickens, Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III, Quez Watkins

28. New Orleans Saints

Nov 17, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; A detail view of New Orleans Saints helmet during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Bub Means, Cedrick Wilson, A.T. Perry

27. Denver Broncos

Dec 15, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Denver Broncos helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Tim Patrick, Josh Reynolds, Troy Franklin

26. Arizona Cardinals

Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Cardinals helmet on the bench during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Marvin Harrison Jr., Zay Jones, Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, Zach Pascal

25. Baltimore Ravens

Sep 22, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Baltimore Ravens helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Devontez Walker, Deonte Harty

24. Atlanta Falcons

Nov 22, 2018; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons helmets on the bench during their game against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Rondale Moore, KhaDarel Hodge, Ray-Ray McCloud

23. New York Giants

Nov 24, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; A detailed view of the New York Giants helmet during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Allen Robinson

22. Washington Commanders

Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of a Washington Commanders helmet during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Luke McCaffrey, Jamison Crowder, Dyami Brown

21. Green Bay Packers

Oct 27, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Green Bay Packers helmet during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton

20. Detroit Lions

Dec 20, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of a Detroit Lions helmet on the bench before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Antoine Green

19. Cleveland Browns

Dec 24, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of a Cleveland Browns helmet prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Bears won 20-3. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman, David Bell

18. Las Vegas Raiders

Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Michael Gallup, Tre Tucker, Jalen Guyton

17. Indianapolis Colts

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Michael Pittman Jr., Adonai Mitchell, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Anthony Gould

16. Carolina Panthers

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo, David Moore

15. Jacksonville Jaguars

Oct 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars helmet on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Christian Kirk, Brian Thomas Jr., Gabriel Davis, Devin Duvernay, Parker Washington

14. Kansas City Chiefs

Nov 3, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Rashee Rice, Marquise Brown, Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Feb 4, 2020; Tampa, FL, USA; Detailed view of Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmets on the sidelines against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer, Jalen McMillan, Rakim Jarrett

12. New York Jets

Dec 29, 2019; Orchard Park, New York, USA; General view of a New York Jets helmet prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Malachi Corley, Xavier Gipson, Jason Brownlee

11. Dallas Cowboys

Jan 5, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Dallas Cowboys helmet prior to the NFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shane Roper-USA TODAY Sports

CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, Kavontae Turpin, Ryan Flournoy

10. Los Angeles Rams

Dec 1, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an Los Angeles Rams helmet against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington

9. Minnesota Vikings

Nov 3, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Minnesota Vikings helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield, Jalen Nailor

8. Tennessee Titans

Oct 8, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; A Tennessee Titans helmet sits in the end zone before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

7. Philadelphia Eagles

Sep 26, 2019; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Philadelphia Eagles helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Parris Campbell, Ainias Smith, Johnny Wilson

6. Chicago Bears

Nov 10, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; A detailed view of the Chicago Bears helmet before the game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Tyler Scott, Velus Jones Jr

5. Miami Dolphins

Dec 24, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Miami Dolphins helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr., Malik Washington, Braxton Berrios

4. Cincinnati Bengals

Oct 29, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of a Bengals helmet on the sidelines in the game of the Indianapolis Colts against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Jermaine Burton, Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin

3. Seattle Seahawks

Sep 30, 2018; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a Seattle Seahawks helmet against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jake Bobo, Laviska Shenault Jr

2. San Francisco 49ers

Dec 9, 2018; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, Jacob Cowin

1. Houston Texans

Jan 12, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Houston Texans helmet during the AFC Divisional Round playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Noah Brown, John Metchie III

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