INDIANAPOLIS —Ryan Grant's second chance in free agency this offseason is the Indianapolis Colts' gain.
The Colts today announced the signing of the 27-year-old free agent wide receiver, who is coming off a career year with the Washington Redskins.
Last week, Grant had already agreed to terms on a reported four-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. But on Thursday, despite the fact Grant had passed his season-ending physical with the Redskins, he did not pass the Ravens’ medical processes, according to general manager Ozzie Newsome, nullifying his new contract and making him a free agent once again.
The Colts, obviously satisfied with Grant's condition, brought him in for a visit late last week, and signed him today.
Grant, a Tulane product, was a fifth-round selection by the Redskins in the 2014 NFL Draft, and he slowly saw his role within the Washington rise over the last four seasons.
Playing behind the likes of DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garçon from 2014-16, Grant caught just 39 combined passes for 412 yards and two touchdowns over that span. But last season, after Jackson and Garçon had departed in free agency, Grant was able to turn in a career year, catching 45 passes for 573 yards and four touchdowns, playing in all 16 games with seven starts.
At 6-foot and 204 pounds, Grant gives the Colts receiving corps a much-needed boost. With former No. 2 and No. 3 wide receivers Donte Moncrief (who has since signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars) and Kamar Aiken becoming free agents at the start of the new league year on March 14, the team had just two wideouts set to return who had logged at least one reception in 2017: T.Y. Hilton and Chester Rogers.
The team has also signed six young wide receivers — Dres Anderson, Seantavius Jones, Justice Liggins, Kolby Listenbee, DeAndre Smelter and James Wright — to Reserve/Future deals to give them a shot on the offseason roster.
Grant's signing is the third of the 2018 free agency period for the Colts. On Thursday, the team signed defensive end Denico Autry, who had spent the first four seasons of his career with the Oakland Raiders; on Monday night, the team signed tight end Eric Ebron, a former first-round pick of the Detroit Lions.
