The Quenton Nelson deal to Seattle may be the first sign that the Colts are ready to take a hard look at the roster and start cashing in pieces before the NFL trade deadline passes.
If Indianapolis is serious about turning this season into something useful for the future, there are at least three names that deserve real attention on the market.
Jonathan Taylor is the biggest swing. He’s still one of the league’s top running backs, and that alone makes him the kind of player contenders would line up for.
The Minnesota Vikings are one team that fits the bill. Taylor already made his mark against them this season, running for 95 yards and a touchdown in Week 7.
On the year, he has 587 rushing yards and eight touchdowns through seven games.
The Colts could decide Taylor remains part of their next phase, but if the front office decides this year is slipping away, he could fetch the kind of draft haul that changes the shape of a rebuild. At 2-5, Indianapolis is getting closer to the point where the seller’s market becomes impossible to ignore.
Keenan Allen is another obvious name to watch. Even in his mid-30s, he’s still producing, and that makes him valuable to a contender that needs help at receiver.
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams both stand out as logical fits given the injuries they’ve dealt with at wide receiver. Allen’s expiring contract only adds to the appeal.
Sauce Gardner is a different kind of trade chip, and a more complicated one. The Colts only got him last season from the New York Jets, so moving him would be a major decision.
Still, if Indianapolis believes another team would pay a premium, it has to consider it. Gardner has not found his footing since arriving, but his talent and reputation could still be enough to draw serious interest from a team convinced a fresh start would unlock him.
There’s no need for the Colts to stop with one move if they choose this path. If the losses keep piling up, Indianapolis should keep listening and keep looking for ways to turn veterans and former big acquisitions into assets for what comes next.
In Other News...
Anthony Richardson Just Added To The Colts Biggest Uncertainty
The Colts were already dealing with one of the leagues more watchful quarterback situations, and Anthony Richardson Sr. has now added another layer of uncertainty off the field. The backup passer was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession after a traffic stop in Carmel, Indiana, putting an unwelcome spotlight on a player whose role has already carried plenty of attention in Indianapolis.
Richardson briefly addressed the matter, calling it an ongoing legal issue and offering no regret when asked about it. The Colts said they are gathering information and will let the legal process play out, with any possible league discipline expected only after that is resolved. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Kicking Nightmare Came Down To One Costly Breakdown
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Luke Rhodes, meanwhile, made clear the Colts are not ready to give up on him. The long snapper backed his teammate after the game, offering confidence despite the missed kicks and the sudden spotlight that followed a breakdown in a phase the Colts usually count on for stability. For a team trying to keep its footing, the concern is not just what went wrong in Minnesota, but how quickly it can be fixed. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Richardson Is Running Out Of Chances To Save His NFL Future
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Indianapolis has already moved on in practice and planning with Daniel Jones, which only sharpens the question around Richardsons place in the organization. The talent is still there, and so is the possibility that another team could believe it can unlock him, but the same issues have defined his career so far: accuracy, footwork and decision-making. At this point, the Colts need more than upside from a quarterback who has spent most of his first three years trying to prove he can become the player they drafted. [Read more 🡒]