Analyst Names Colts Landing Spot for 727-Yard WR Deebo Samuel

Q: Could a Chargers reunion with his former coach derail the Colts' pursuit of Deebo Samuel?

Yes. A Chargers reunion with Mike McDaniel looks like one of the clearest threats to any Colts bid for Deebo Samuel. The main reason is fit and familiarity. Samuel’s best NFL season came in 2021 under McDaniel in San Francisco, when he was an All-Pro and one of the league’s most dangerous yards-after-catch weapons. If Samuel is prioritizing the “right opportunity,” a coach who already knows how to deploy him effectively would be a major draw. The Chargers also have the financial flexibility to compete. Reports cited them among the teams with strong cap space, and that matters because Samuel’s market may still depend on what kind of contract he wants despite concerns about age, injuries and declining explosiveness. If Los Angeles is interested, it can make a credible offer without much strain. That said, a Chargers move is not a guaranteed deal-breaker for Indianapolis. The Colts also have ample cap room and a clearer immediate need at receiver, especially after reshaping their wideout group. Samuel could walk into a meaningful role there, whereas with the Chargers he may depend more on how McDaniel specifically wants to use him. So the Chargers are probably the more dangerous rival because of the McDaniel connection, but the Colts remain viable if they offer Samuel a bigger role, a cleaner path to targets, or a better contract structure.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 23

CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani included Indianapolis among five possible destinations for free-agent wide receiver Deebo Samuel as training camp nears.
Samuel said free agency has been a "roller coaster" but that he is "more than ready," adding in Year 8 that he believes he has three or four strong seasons left.
The 29-year-old caught 72 of 99 targets for 727 yards and five touchdowns in Washington in 2025, giving the Colts a more proven option than current WR3 contenders Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Fit remains the main question: Samuel played mostly in the slot last season, where Josh Downs is entrenched, so Indianapolis would likely need to use him more outside alongside Downs and Alec Pierce.
Indianapolis has enough salary-cap room for a late signing, making the idea plausible even though the report reflects an analyst's projection rather than team interest.