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Previous signings of veteran receivers suggest Anquan Boldin wouldn't fit with Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are set with T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett as their top three wide receivers. But they have depth concerns behind those three players.

Mike Wells: There’s no questioning Boldin’s professionalism and what he could provide inside the locker room from a leadership standpoint. He’s also had a very solid career (1,009 receptions for 13,195 yards and 74 touchdowns). But he’s 35 years old, and the Colts have been down this road before -- and each time the move didn’t pan out for them.

Let me refresh everybody’s memory about the previous three times the Colts signed a veteran player to add depth at receiver.

Darrius Heyward-Bey (2013): 29 receptions, 309 yards, one touchdown. Heyward-Bey, 26 that season, went from being one of the top three receivers at the start of the season to being relegated to special teams, though he did do an exceptional job pinning punts deep in the opponent’s end of the field late in the season.

Hakeem Nicks (2014): 38 receptions, 405 yards, four TDs. Nicks, also 26 in his Indy tryout, began the season as the No. 2 receiver and ended at no higher than No. 4 after being inconsistent throughout.

Andre Johnson (2015): 41 receptions, 503 yards, four TDs. Johnson, 34 last season, went from No. 2 receiver to having Griff Whalen -- who spent time bouncing between the practice squad and active roster -- get more snaps than him at one point. Enough said.

Do you see a pattern here?

All three receivers saw their time with the Colts last all of one season. You have to believe the Colts have learned their lesson.