PFF projects Colts as ‘landing spot’ for Saints free agent tight end Juwan Johnson

Could the Colts target a veteran tight end who’s had solid and steady receiving production through recent years?

According to PFF, the Indianapolis Colts are projected as a potential ‘landing spot’ for New Orleans Saints free agent veteran tight end Juwan Johnson:

TE Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

Overall Free-Agent Rank: 37

Potential Landing Spots: Indianapolis Colts

Anthony Richardson‘s development as an NFL signal-caller remains the Colts‘ most important challenge heading into 2025. What better way to assist that process than to find an established safety blanket the young passer can lean on when plays break down and reads get muddy?

With Mo Alie-Cox’s contract expiring this offseason, finding a suitable replacement should be on the Colts’ list of needs. In 2024, Johnson produced the highest single-season PFF receiving grade of his career (71.3), a credit to his sure hands and large catch radius. But he’s not only a safety measure in the short passing game: His career-high 21 explosive receptions this past season also paint him as a real downfield threat.

The tight end needy Colts are certainly among the suitors that could be interested in signing Johnson during free agency—especially with both Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson set to become free agents themselves.

Originally signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon in 2020, the listed 6’4,” 231 pound tight end (with 34 1/4” arms) is coming off a strong season in which he caught a career-high 50 receptions for 548 receiving yards and 3 touchdown receptions during 17 games (5 starts) this past season for New Orleans. He set a career-high of 7 touchdown receptions back in the 2022 season.

He’s currently projected by PFF to obtain a 3-year, $29.25 million deal (with $17 million guaranteed) on his next NFL contract.

Not to beat a dead horse here (which was the Colts tight end receiving room last year), but this franchise desperately needs a difference-maker from a pass-catching standpoint again.

Whether that’s ultimately a veteran like Johnson or a top tight end prospect such as prized Penn State tight end Tyler Warren remains to be seen, but the Colts’ depleted position desperately needs a meaningful upgrade—which has been arguably long overdue.

In fact, the continued growth and development of soon-to-be 3rd-year starter Anthony Richardson could very well depend on it during what’s shaping up to be a ‘make-or-break’ 2025 for certain embattled pillars of the Colts organization.