Indianapolis Colts
McLaurin was born in Indianapolis and was named Indiana’s Mr. Football while playing for Cathedral High School in 2013. His hometown team could certainly use him. With the quarterback position still unsettled between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson, an upgrade at wide receiver would only help last year’s 25th-ranked passing offense.
Alec Pierce led the Colts with 824 yards on 37 catches in 2024 but is hard to trust with a boom-or-bust 22.3 yards per catch average. Michael Pittman Jr. had 803 yards on 69 catches, but scored only three touchdowns.
With a 17-17 record since taking over as head coach of the Colts in 2023, Shane Steichen could be out of a job without a playoff appearance in 2025. McLaurin improves those odds no matter who plays quarterback.
Kansas City Chiefs
The defending AFC champions ranked 17th in yards (327.6) and 15th in points (22.6) in 2024. Tight end Travis Kelce led the team with a career-low 823 yards and averaged a career-worst 8.5 yards per catch while scoring just three touchdowns, tied for 81st with 34 other players.
Xavier Worthy had 638 yards and six scores as a rookie in 2024, but was briefly put in the concussion protocol in training camp for what was later determined to be an equilibrium issue caused by fluid in his ear.
Rashee Rice, a second-round pick in 2023, had just 24 catches for 288 yards after missing 13 games with a knee injury last season. This year, he’s facing a multi-game suspension after fleeing the scene of a high-speed crash that earned him five years of probation and 30 days in jail.
A shoulder injury limited Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to nine catches in two regular season games last year, but was carted off the field in training camp with an ankle injury. Given the uncertainty at the position, the Chiefs front office will certainly check in on the Commanders receiver.
New Orleans Saints
With a first-year head coach in Kellen Moore and rookie Tyler Shough expected to win the starting quarterback job, McLaurin could be the veteran presence the Saints need to move up in the NFC South.
After starting his career with two 1,000-yard seasons, a pair of concussions limited Chis Olave to 400 yards in eight games last season while Rashid Shaheed managed 349 yards in six games after tearing his meniscus in Week 7.
As a former offensive coordinator with Cowboys and Eagles, Moore is used to having top-flight receivers like A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb and DeVonta Smith on hand. McLaurin would give Shough a reliable target as the second-round pick learns the ropes of Moore’s offense.
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