Colts Can Give Daniel Jones Another Safety Blanket to Target This Summer

On March 12, the Indianapolis Colts reached deals with two key players before a critical season for general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen.

The Colts were able to extend the contracts of quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce. It was unclear if Indianapolis would have the money to bring both players back. The deals worked out beautifully for Jones, who will have his No. 1 receiver back to push for a playoff spot in 2026.

Indianapolis could add another veteran receiver this offseason. Matt Bowen of ESPN named Deebo Samuel as a best fit for the Colts this summer.

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“The Colts added veteran receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine this offseason, but Samuel would bring a unique skill set to coach Shane Steichen’s offense as a complement to Alec Pierce and slot man Josh Downs,” Bowen wrote. “Steichen can create a long runway for Samuel to get up to speed on crossers, while building in manufactured touches on screens and fly sweeps.

“Signing Samuel, who caught 72 passes last season in Washington, would also give quarterback Daniel Jones another catch-and-run target alongside tight end Tyler Warren. Both Samuel and Warren ranked in the top 15 of yards after the catch last season.”

Samuel was a huge help for the Commanders’ offense last season, recording 72 receptions for 727 yards and five touchdowns. However, Washington finished 5-12, as quarterback Jayden Daniels only started in seven games due to injury.

Samuel, 30, would be in a strong position to make a playoff push with the Colts, who wound up missing the 2025 postseason after Jones suffered an Achilles injury in December.

The Colts need another veteran receiver with the ability to get open consistently. Samuel, a 2019 second-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, has made a career out of making plays when he gets the ball in his hands. The All-Pro has recorded 406 receptions for 5,519 yards and 27 touchdowns during his first seven years in the league.

With Jones coming off the Achilles injury, it’s more important for the Colts to make sure he doesn’t have to run around in the pocket to wait for an open receiver.

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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 5:55 PM.