New Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard continues to add solid depth in his rebuild of the Colts' roster.
Ballard's latest acquisition is wide receiver Kamar Aiken, who signed a one-year deal with Indy on Tuesday, his representation announced. The Coltslater confirmed the deal.
Aiken spent the past three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. The 27-year-old led the team with 944 yards on 75 receptions and also had five TDs in 2015. Last season, however, Aiken became lost in the shuffle in Baltimore, earning just 29 catches for 328 yards and a score.
Aiken visited the Colts last week and spent Monday with the Seattle Seahawks before deciding to make Indy his new home.Â
At 6-foot-2, Aiken is a solid route runner with good hands and decent enough speed to gain separation. He also comes with the versatility to play in multiple spots in the formation. In his breakout 2015 campaign, Aiken lined up 78 percent of his snaps out wide and 18 percent in the slot, per Next Gen Stats. Last season, with the Ravens adding outside receivers, Aiken shuffled inside, spending 70 percent of his snaps in the slot and 26 percent wide.
Aiken joins a Colts receiver corps led by star T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and former first-round pick Phillip Dorsett. Despite the trio in place, Aiken adds size to a mostly small unit. He should battle a disappointing Dorsett for playing time and adds needed depth to a unit shown to be wicked shallow after injuries struck last season.
Signing Aiken at this stage is a solid move that aligns with several of Ballard's moves this offseason to add depth and competition to a woefully thin team. The additions of Aiken, Sean Spence, Jabaal Sheard, Barkevious Mingo, John Simon, Margus Hunt and Al Woods will immediately upgrade a decaying Colts squad even if they aren't big, splash signings.
