Pair of younger Colts wideouts excelled at every of those respective receiving routes, per PFF

In response to PFF,

Particularly, every was among the many highest graded vast receivers this previous season when in comparison with their friends concerning every respective route:

Flat/Velocity Out (min. 5 Targets)

1. Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (85.9)

2. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Payments (80.4)

3. Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants (79.4)

Solely 14 receivers had been focused 5 or extra occasions on flat routes in 2024. Josh Downs led the group in PFF receiving grade, producing a 46.2% risk fee on the route (second greatest). He caught 5 of six such passes for 41 yards, turning 4 into first downs whereas averaging 6.4 yards after the catch per reception.

The previous Tar Heel has caught seven of 9 flat-route targets via two seasons, incomes an 80.5 PFF receiving grade on these performs (third greatest).

Put up (min. 5 Targets)

1. Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (97.9)

2. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (96.2)

Nico Collins, Houston Texans (94.8)

Brian Thomas Jr. is the one rookie receiver from final season to cleared the path in PFF grade on any route. One other wonderful deep risk, Thomas secured 4 of six publish targets for 206 yards (most). 5 of his targets got here on deep throws, and every catch gained greater than 20 yards. Thomas ranked second in general risk fee on publish routes (85.7%), whereas 20% of his deep discipline targets got here from posts.

Since being chosen within the third spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft, Downs has emerged as one of many higher younger slot wideouts in the complete league and arguably is one of the best stored Colts secret inside their passing recreation.

He appeared to have extra success with veteran Joe Flacco final season, over Anthony Richardson. The previous who appeared to take extra of the beneath routes and checkdowns. Nonetheless, he’s been profitable no matter who’s been beginning for Indy, and that speaks volumes for the place each Pierce and him are at given the volatility and inconsistency of the Colts beginning quarterbacks the previous few seasons.

In the meantime, Alec Pierce, a former 2022 2nd spherical decide of Indianapolis, led the Colts in receiving yards (824), landing receptions (7), and yards per reception common (22.3 yards per reception). It’s not shocking that he was among the many league’s standouts at working a deep route final season.

Whereas Pierce is extra of a ‘one trick pony’—going deep above all else, quite than a route tree aficionado. His area of interest capability as a harmful downfield risk makes him among the finest within the enterprise so far as stretching the sector is anxious.

We’ll see if every can have the identical success in 2025, with both Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson once more anticipated to start out for the Colts throughout the upcoming marketing campaign.