Ashton Dulin in the mix as Colts’ receiving competition takes shape after Michael Pittman trade

The Indianapolis Colts’ wide-receiver picture is in flux after the March trade of Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a move that reshaped their offense and left them looking for more dependable production from the rest of the receiving group. As the team heads toward training camp, Pro Football Rumors reports that Ashton Dulin has emerged as a leading candidate in the internal competition for a starting role.

According to the Pro Football Rumors report, Indianapolis appears to be managing a delicate balancing act. The Colts have reportedly used a four-year, $114 million offer to keep deep threat Alec Pierce in the fold, suggesting the team values the vertical element he provides. At the same time, they are weighing what Pierce can realistically do if his offseason ankle surgery has lingering impact.

Dulin’s positioning, as described in the report, matters because the Colts need more than one type of receiver to function across different passing situations. If Pierce is limited early, the offense could lean more heavily on players who can serve as reliable options in timing-based routes, third-down packages, and intermediate looks. Dulin being “in the lead” for a starting job would fit a plan that prioritizes continuity while new roles take shape.

This situation is also tied to the broader risk profile of the Colts’ receiving corps. With Pittman gone, there is less margin for the kind of slow starts that can accompany transitions in targets and route distribution. Even if Pierce remains available, the nature of a returning player working through ankle recovery can create a gap between full practice capacity and game-ready explosiveness, which often shows up in how coaches deploy those receivers.

The Colts’ approach heading into camp will likely reflect a mix of evaluation and roster protection. If Dulin is indeed the early front-runner, it implies Indianapolis believes he can handle starter-level responsibility, at least from an overall skill and matchup perspective. However, reports at this stage of the offseason are inherently fluid, and training camp performance, especially in high-coverage periods and red-zone work, is typically where “leads” can change quickly.

For fans, the most immediate watch item is how Pierce’s ankle situation affects day-to-day usage. If he’s limited in practice, the starting job narrative around Dulin becomes more than a depth-chart talking point, it becomes a driver of the offensive game plan. Conversely, if Pierce is able to ramp without restrictions, Dulin could still matter as a rotational piece or complementary starter rather than the primary solution.

What to monitor next is the Colts’ camp-to-preseason progression: how often Pierce participates, whether Dulin earns first-team reps consistently, and whether the team’s offensive rhythm indicates a clear pecking order at wide receiver. Those indicates will help determine how quickly the Colts can stabilize quarterback-to-receiver trust after the Pittman departure and whether their receiving depth can carry them through the early season.