The Colts are staring at a trade deadline that could shape what comes next, and the case for selling is hard to ignore. With the deadline set for November 10, Indianapolis has already made two trades, and the idea here is simple: one or two more should not be off the table.
If the Colts are serious about tearing things down and building back up, draft picks have to be the currency. Hanging around in the middle does nothing for a team trying to reset. That’s why the focus turns to four players who could be moved for value before the deadline.
Anthony Richardson is the first name that jumps out. If Indianapolis drops its Week 9 game to the Dallas Cowboys, the team would sit at 2-7, and the playoff path would be gone.
At that point, keeping Richardson would make little sense, especially since he is likely to sign elsewhere in free agency. The Colts should take what they can get now for a quarterback who has not played meaningful reps in two seasons.
A second-round pick is not the expectation here; if he brings back a fourth- or fifth-round choice, that’s the move.
Jonathan Taylor is a different kind of decision, but the logic still points toward a deal. He has been excellent, yet his production has also underscored how little individual brilliance has translated into team success.
Indianapolis could probably keep the rushing game moving with Seth McGowan handling most of the carries. What the Colts really need is the draft capital a Taylor trade could bring.
A first-rounder is not the target in this scenario. A second-round pick and a third-round pick in 2028 would be enough.
Grover Stewart also belongs on the list. He has been a strong player for Indianapolis, and there’s no doubt the team would be better with him still around.
But he is in his early 30s and closer to the end than the beginning. If a team is willing to part with a fourth-round pick, the Colts should make the deal.
Stewart has played too long and too well to fade out with Indianapolis when a playoff team could use him now.
Josh Downs is the clearest trade case of the bunch because he has already requested to be moved. If he does not want to be in Indianapolis and is not going to re-sign in free agency, the Colts should get something back while they still can. A seventh-round pick would not be worth it, but a fourth-rounder would absolutely make sense.
The bigger picture is plain enough: Indianapolis needs draft picks, and it needs them now. The rebuild will not happen overnight, but if the Colts want to be in a much better place by 2028, moving these players is the kind of painful step that gets them there.
In Other News...
Anthony Richardson Just Got One Last Chance To Change Everything
Anthony Richardson is back on the field for the Colts after spending time recovering from an orbital fracture, and simply getting to this point carried more weight than most comeback stories. The former No. 4 draft pick has spoken about how grateful he is for the chance to play again, especially with so much uncertainty hanging over his recovery and what it might mean for his future.
Even with Richardson back in uniform, Indianapolis has not fully locked itself into him as the long-term answer, which leaves this season feeling like a proving ground as much as a return. For a player still trying to reestablish himself after a difficult stretch, every snap carries extra meaning, and the next few months could shape far more than just the Colts' quarterback depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Put Jonathan Taylor Trade On Hold For One Huge Reason
The Colts have made it clear they are listening on Jonathan Taylor, but listening has not turned into action yet. With a rebuild already underway, Indianapolis has moved on from other key pieces and even parted ways with its general manager, leaving Taylor as one of the biggest names still in the middle of the roster churn. Several teams have checked in, and the idea of a deal before the Nov. 10, 2026 deadline is very much alive.
What is slowing things down is the price. Indianapolis is not treating Taylor like a routine rental or a simple cap move, and the front office is holding out for a return that reflects his value at the position. Until a team is willing to meet that standard, the Colts appear content to wait, even if the market is active and the deadline is getting closer. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Fans Have Every Reason To Revisit The Sauce Gardner Trade
The Colts decision to go big for Sauce Gardner was always going to be judged by more than one season, but the early returns have only made the conversation louder. Indianapolis sent out two first-round picks to land the cornerback, a move meant to fortify the secondary and signal a real push, yet the teams difficult season has made the cost feel even steeper as the roster continues to search for traction.
Gardners time in Indianapolis has also been interrupted by missed games, which has kept the trade from delivering the immediate payoff the Colts were hoping for. And because the deal reached beyond just draft capital, with Adonai Mitchell included in the return package, it remains one of those moves fans will keep revisiting every time the standings and the future draft picture come back into focus. [Read more 🡒]