With options at wide receiver, the Indianapolis Colts could take a look at Travis Benjamin.
As reported by the L.A. Times, the Los Angeles Chargers are not going to retain Benjamin.
Benjamin spent the last four seasons with the Chargers but his final season was filled with injuries.
Does that pose the question: should the Colts pursue Benjamin this off-season?
The #Chargers and WR Travis Benjamin are mutually parting ways after the team and agent Ron Butler met at the Combine, source said. Benjamin, who has been with the team since 2016, will be a free agent when the league year begins.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2020
The Numbers
Benjamin’s first season with the Chargers was productive.
In 2016, Benjamin caught 47 passes for 677 yards and four touchdowns.
He followed that campaign with 34 catches for 567 yards and four touchdowns in 2017.
However, his final two seasons were filled with injury and inconsistency.
In 2018, Benjamin caught just 186 yards, and in 2019 that total was just six receptions for 30 yards.
His final season was cut short after the Chargers placed Benjamin on the IR on October 17th with a quad injury.
Busy week for the Chargers
Chargers and Travis Benjamin has agreed to part ways
Russell Okung was traded to the Panthers for Trai Turner
Austin Ekeler re-signs with the team for 4 more yearsGood week overall 🙌
— ⚡️ChargersLegion⚡️ (@ChargersLegion) March 6, 2020
The Appeal
The 2017 season was Benjamin’s last successful campaign.
During that season, Benjamin was also the team’s primary punt returner.
In Week 7 of the season, Benjamin was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week by scoring a 64-yard punt return.
Some believe that Benjamin can still play as a No. 3 or No. 4 receiver on the team.
However, history over the last two years proves otherwise.
The Truth
Over the last four seasons with the Chargers, Benjamin caught over 50% of his targets just once.
Benjamin never finished with more scores than drops in a season.
Travis Benjamin porque 😩😩😩
Los @Chargers are the best team in the NFL but this dude all year case of the drops Blood pressure through the roof #chargers #boltup pic.twitter.com/7w9o1UnH4e
— Mario Salazar (@SuperStarcomedy) September 25, 2019
His best season in his career came in 2016 but that was because Keenan Allen was out for the entire season with a torn ACL.
Despite finishing the seasons with 677 yards receiving, Benjamin fumbled the football three times.
It makes total sense that the Chargers are letting him go.
For starters, he has not produced as an NFL-caliber receiver the last couple of years.
Not to mention, the Chargers will save $1.5 million of Benjamin’s money from being dead towards the cap.
The Chargers know they can easily find an upgrade through the draft, which proves that theory by letting him go.
Final Thoughts
It’s pure and simple.
If you are the Colts and are looking for a wide receiver, there is no need to offer Benjamin a contract.
There is already uncertainty at quarterback, so there should not be question marks at the receiver position.
Benjamin can revive his career somewhere else or play in the XFL
All in all, it should not be in a Colts uniform.
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