Thanks to a surprisingly hot start, the Indianapolis Colts have the best record in the NFL after seven weeks. They have the game’s top scoring offense and have the best point differential by a long shot, and now have legitimate hopes of making a deep playoff run.
But there are some positions that may still need to be addressed. Will Indy’s front office be working the phones ahead of the November 4th trade deadline? Here are three possibilities for the Colts over the next two weeks:
Could Colts Trade for Russ or Jameis?
The Colts are one injury away from disaster and potentially wasting their league-best start to the season. Riley Leonard, the rookie out of Notre Dame, is currently listed as the backup quarterback due to Anthony Richardson’s bizarre eye injury. Indy is certainly looking for some insurance in case Daniel Jones happens to go down, evidenced by their signing of Brett Rypien to their practice squad.
This puts them in the market for a new no. 2, and there are some players who could be on the block. Would they consider looking towards the New York Giants for help? Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston could likely be had for the price of a 6th or 7th round pick, which the Colts own three of.
Will Colts Trade for L’Jarius Sneed or Taylor-Britt?
One of the few clear weaknesses for Indianapolis is in their secondary. Five defensive backs on the depth chart are on IR, and the group that is playing has struggled. The Colts are 29th in passing yards allowed and have given up the 9th-most passing touchdowns. They need help on the outside and in the slot, and it would not be surprising if they looked for a starter rather than just depth.
L’Jarius Sneed is one of the bigger names linked to teams needing immediate corner help. He can play press on the perimeter, take away bigger receivers, and allow the Colts to tighten their coverage without relying on safety help. The fit is clean, but acquiring him would require working with his contract and likely surrendering real draft capital.
There are also mid-tier options. Cam Taylor-Britt of the Bengals is one. Drafted in the second round in 2022, Taylor-Britt played more than 86% of Cincinnati’s defensive snaps in each of his first three seasons. This year his role has dropped to 61%, and he’s been inactive in recent weeks. He looks like someone who could benefit from a change of situation and would immediately give the Colts a playable corner rather than another project.
Will the Colts Make Any Trades Before the Deadline?
Colts general manager Chris Ballard isn’t usually interested in mid-season trades, so there is a chance that the team remains quiet at the deadline. If Ballard believes that the secondary can improve over time and with the far-off return of Charvarius Ward, then perhaps he’ll choose to hold on to all of the team’s draft picks until the offseason.
The Colts have rarely been aggressive buyers, even in years when a playoff push felt realistic. Ballard believes in building from within and sticking to a plan, and he’s not one to mortgage future picks, especially mid-season. With that in mind, it’s hard to see him suddenly shifting philosophy before November 4th.
