The only good thing about having a five-man draft class including no first-round pick? It’s a lot easier to get everyone under contract.
The Colts have completed that task via the signing of third-round receiver Donte Moncrief. The team announced the deal on Friday morning.
Moncrief started 37 of 38 games at Mississippi. He ranks third all time for the Rebels in receptions (156), receiving yards (2,371), and receiving touchdowns (20). He had nine 100-yard games.
The Colts surely hope Moncrief has the same impact as 2012 third-round receiver T.Y. Hilton, who quickly has become the best wideout on the roster. At six-two and 221 pounds, Moncrief ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds on the field where he’ll be playing his home games.
The youngest player in the draft, Moncrief recently explained his decision to leave school early.
“I had some family [issues] that I needed to help with,” Moncrief told the Indianapolis Star. “I’ve got a daughter now, and that’s the big thing. . . . My mom’s been all alone working. I just wanted to be able to help my family and provide for my daughter.”
He’ll be able to do that now, thanks to a signing bonus that will fall between the $542,900 paid to Cardinals receiver John Brown (taken one spot after Moncrief) and the $544,140 paid to Chargers guard Chris Watt (taken one spot before Moncrief). The total deal will be worth roughly $2.8 million over four years.