Former Vikings 1st-Rounder Signs with Colts
He just cannot shake the league, and the league for sure cannot shake him.
Former Vikings 1st-Rounder Signs with Colts
Laquon Treadwell reemerged on Wednesday, signing with the Indianapolis Colts as NFL training camps began this week.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted, “Colts signed free-agent wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.”
Treadwell, who turned 29 in June, will now vie for a 53-man roster spot in Indianapolis and should be considered a longshot to make the team. However, the man simply has NFL staying power, always finding a new team from season to season, if only for a minor role. Here’s his eight-team resume since 2016:
- Minnesota Vikings (2016–2019)
- Atlanta Falcons (2020)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2021)
- New England Patriots (2022)
- Arizona Cardinals (2022)
- Seattle Seahawks (2022)
- Baltimore Ravens (2023)
- Indianapolis Colts (2024)
With the Colts, Treadwell will battle these players for a September roster spot:
- Michael Pittman
- Josh Downs
- Adonai Mitchell
- Alec Pierce
- Ashton Dulin
- Anthony Goul
- D.J. Montgomery
- Ethan Fernea
- Juwann Winfree
- Tyrie Cleveland
- Xavier White
- Derek Slywka
- Jason Bean
The Vikings drafted Treadwell in 2016 with the 23rd overall pick but did not receive a profitable return on investment. Minnesota continually tried to adapt Treadwell to the passing game, but he didn’t catch on. He was a phenomenal teammate and an “intangibles player” while failing to stuff box scores with receptions and yards.
Minnesota selected Treadwell in that draft eight years ago at a spot where it could’ve landed Xavien Howard, Derrick Henry, Michael Thomas, or Kenny Clark. But that type of example can be cited for nearly any pick in any draft. The Mike Zimmer-led Vikings vehemently clung to Treadwell, hoping he’d bust out to relevance. He played in 53 Vikings games in four years, tabulating just 701 receiving yards and two touchdowns. It was a rare 1st-Round miss for the Vikings at wide receiver, a franchise known for Mosses, Harvins, and Jeffersons.
Treadwell notched a ‘career year’ in 2021 with the Jaguars, though, accruing 33 catches for 434 yards on a putrid Urban Meyer-led Jacksonville team. All told in his career, he’s produced 111 receptions for 1,242 yards and 5 touchdowns — in 81 games. Treadwell averages 15.3 receiving yards per game.
The Vikings are well known for receiver majesty in the draft and otherwise — Randy Moss, Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs, Anthony Carter, Adam Thielen, Jake Reed, Percy Harvin, and Sammy White can attest — but Treadwell was an example of the few who flopped. Perhaps he can have a resurgence in Indianapolis.
The Colts ranked 18th per passing DVOA in 2023, mostly with Gardner Minshew under center, who now plays for the Las Vegas Raiders. Anthony Richardson will throw passes to Colts’ pass-catchers this season.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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