After the Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard, the question now is whether Indianapolis could shift from trying to recover this season to thinking about the trade market.
For now, that doesn’t appear to be the direction. In a statement from owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, she said the Colts’ goals for this season remain the same despite the GM change.
Still, the path back is starting to look steep. Indianapolis sits at 2-4, and the next two games are tough ones against 5-0 Minnesota and 4-2 Jacksonville. Based on how the roster looks, the Colts don’t exactly resemble a team built for a playoff run.
If the season starts to go sideways, there’s a case for the Colts to think long-term and load up on draft capital. That would matter even more because Indianapolis is still without its 2027 first-round pick after the Sauce Gardner trade.
That opens the door to a few potential trade chips. DeForest Buckner, Quenton Nelson, Grover Stewart and Josh Downs are all in the final year of their deals, which could make them appealing to teams trying to add help. Jonathan Taylor could also draw interest, even though he signed a contract extension over the summer.
At this stage, it sounds like almost anything could be in play if the Colts decide a reset is the better move. More changes could be coming in Indianapolis as the team looks for a fresh start.
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10.
In Other News...
Colts Rebuild Could Force A Painful Decision On One Veteran Star
Chris Ballards firing has put the Colts into a position they have largely tried to avoid, one where a reset could mean looking hard at players who have been central to the roster for years. With Ed Dodds stepping in as interim general manager, Indianapolis is suddenly in a spot where recouping draft compensation may matter as much as protecting the core, and that changes the conversation around a team built to compete sooner rather than later.
Names like DeForest Buckner, Quenton Nelson, Grover Stewart and Jonathan Taylor all sit in that uncomfortable middle ground between franchise pillar and possible trade chip. The Colts do not have to rush into anything, but with the season moving forward and a rebuild now hanging over the front office, the question is whether keeping those veterans intact is worth more than the return they could bring if Indianapolis decides to listen. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Made A Front Office Move Fans Can't Ignore
A shaky start has already put Indianapolis in a difficult spot, and now the organization has made a front office change that underscores just how seriously it views the first month of the season. The Colts moved on from general manager Chris Ballard, ending his run after a long stretch in charge and signaling that the patience built over the past several years had finally run out.
The timing matters because this was never just about one bad week. Indianapolis is sitting at 2-4 after a humiliating loss to the previously winless Titans, and the move invites all the usual questions about where the franchise goes next and how quickly it can stabilize. For a team that came into the year needing better results, this is the kind of decision that can reshape everything that follows. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Hit A Crossroads As Steichen Tries To Stop A Spiral
After the loss to Tennessee, Shane Steichen spent his time talking less about the scoreboard and more about the habits that have put the Colts in a 2-4 hole. His message was centered on accountability and urgency, with the coach stressing that the only way forward is for everyone in the building to buy in and focus on the things they can actually control.
The schedule does not offer much room to breathe, either. Indianapolis is heading into a difficult stretch with road trips looming against Minnesota and Jacksonville, and those games will go a long way toward showing whether this team can steady itself or keep sliding deeper into the kind of season that quickly starts to define itself. [Read more 🡒]