2019 WR Battle: Player Profiles

Hilton, Funchess, and Cain

Six spots. Sometimes only five. That’s usually the only number of spots available on the depth chart come Week 1 of the 2019 season. The 2019 ‘June’ Colts currently have 13 wide receivers on their roster, but every September brings tough decisions to be made. The inevitable fact that proven players will get cut is a luxury and byproduct of a talented roster. Over the next week, I’ll breakdown each receiver battling for a spot on the team. This is the most interesting position battle to watch in my opinion. This group is deep not only from its proven players, but from the pieces added in free agency and the draft. This offense has ‘Star Wars’ number potential as Jim Irsay says so here they are:

T.Y. Hilton

First and foremost, T.Y. Hilton has firmly established himself as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver. He’s proved a lot of doubters wrong including myself, but I wised up in 2015 when I started dating my wife who’s a self-described fan. I also recognized T.Y.’s consistent abilities as a deep-threat option year after year. Despite one of the smaller frames (5’9 180lbs) for a Pro-Bowl receiver, he has shown the ability to carry his teammates perennially.

This should be brief because T.Y has proven himself as the No.1 in multiple different ways since entering the league in 2012. He’s not an all-around unstoppable WR (unless they’re playing Houston), but it’s unfair to expect that when we’ve had receivers like Harrison and Wayne. In more recent memory, battling through injury displayed his toughness as a football player. He’s been vocal to the community, city, and team that he would like to play his entire career here. Now after No. 1’s written in permanent marker, the rest is all pencil.

Devin Funchess

Let’s hope Devin Funchess gels better with Luck initially than he did with his backup. Although it appeared to be a small conflict, one can’t forget players signed in free agency were free agents for a reason. The moment Marlon Mack separated Jacoby Brissett from Funchess, the smallest red flag was raised for the Colts’ personnel department. The one that gave him a $10,000,000 contract (with incentives up to $13M). Funchess expressed on Twitter that he was putting “his all” into the game inferring the argument stemmed from his apparent passion. Let’s hope that passion can be channeled into improving accountability and communication between his signal callers. Nonetheless, there’s strong evidence pointing to him lining up as the No. 2/B receiver for Nick Sirianni & Frank Reich’s offense Day 1.

The former second round pick’s 6’4 225” frame is naturally enough to draw one of the two defense’s best two backs. He undoubtedly looks the part of a tall outside receiver, but hopefully the guy who-hasn’t-had-a-thousand-yard-season can jump-start his own career. Best case scenario: he could connect on a level similar to Eric Ebron did with #12 last season.

Indianapolis is not New York or Los Angeles, but there are highly talented NFL players that want to play with this critically acclaimed “nice-guy nerd.” Saying Andrew Luck is part of the sales pitch to come to Indianapolis would be an understatement so seeing a great line in front of him is a relieving sight. What isn’t a relieving sight? Seeing him miss his third straight year of OTA’s. A nagging calf strain has kept him out of the voluntary Organized Team Activities. Devin Funchess is the latest example of that talent magnet, and I believe he has the talent to connect with Luck on a high-level. Not terrible return for a quarterback that is no longer a top 10 paid QB due to Carson Went’z record breaking $32 million dollars annually. But we’ll save the offensive line and quarterback talk for later because all WR spots (besides the first) are available for the taking. The next player available has the size and ability to fill that role. Albeit unproven, we saw glimpses that his selection in the draft was warranted or even “stolen” some might say.

Deon Cain

Deon Cain was quite secure on the roster in 2018 (and this season) for a player that has yet to see game action and was drafted in the sixth round. The Clemson product was said to have second round talent along with a 6’2 200 frame and a 4.44 40 attached to his name. He seemed to show every bit of that talent in 2018 training camp. He was even mentioned to be the best receiver in camp not named T.Y. Hilton. Someone asked me if he’s a lock to make the team and my answer was yes. Barring injury or any setbacks, he looks to be heavily involved in the future passing game plan.

It seemed like a sure bet that he’d be No. 2 on the depth chart. That was until the first preseason game in Seattle ended his season with an ACL tear. I think Cain will eventually play the role that they envision Funchess playing. With that being said his inevitable start on the PUP list clouds the waters for him on the marker board. ACL’s are usually a calendar year recovery time, but you can’t count Cain out of the WR race this season.