Deion Burks selected by Colts in 7th round of 2026 NFL Draft: grade, analysis, stats
· Yahoo Sports
INDIANAPOLIS -- With the loss of Michael Pittman Jr. in a March trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Colts put themselves in the market for another wide receiver to become the team’s new WR3 heading into 2026. Having picked up veteran big play threat Nick Westbrook-Ikhine – who caught just 11 pass in 15 games that included three starts a year ago in Miami – in free agency, Indianapolis entered this week’s draft still believed to be in the market for a receiver prospect.
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The Colts’ final pick of the draft – former Purdue standout turned Oklahoma speedster Deion Burks – doesn’t quite profile as a replacement in Pittman’s role but Indianapolis brass believes his high-impact potential can leave a mark on an offense in need of a little more juice at receiver.
Burks was slotted in by some as a mid-round draft pick, so falling to the final picks of the draft altogether – he was taken No. 254 out of 257 picks – gives Indianapolis value in the third offensive player the team selected this Draft.
Colts draft grade: Oklahoma WR Deion Burks, C+
Presumed to be a slot receiver by many, given his 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame, the Colts see much more from Burks, who they were surprised to see fall to them late in the seventh round. With 4.3 40 speed, he offers deep threat potential on the outside, too – something the Colts will need increasingly from someone other than Alec Pierce as the team’s top wideout transitions more and more into a well-rounded WR1 role coming off his record-breaking free agent contract last month.
Burks, though, only recorded nine plays last season of 20-plus yards – ranking 152nd in FBS – so in that way, the Colts believe the 23-year-old offers untapped potential that wasn’t fully realized after he shined in West Lafayette in 2023 and then lost a step production-wise, in his transfer to Oklahoma over the past two seasons.
The combination of speed, burst and strength – he threw up 26 reps on the bench press – profile a bit as a track star, but that physicality, too, should help him in battling over the middle and working up against man-coverage he’ll see increasingly in the NFL.
To make the Colts roster, he may need to reignite his experience in special teams, where he hasn’t played since 2022. When he did play on special teams at Purdue, Burks averaged 19.9 yards as a kickoff returner.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts take Deion Burks in 7th round of 2026 NFL Draft: grade, analysis, stats