The Houston Texans’ trade for Marvin Harrison Jr. came at a price that makes one thing look pretty clear: the Indianapolis Colts probably made the right call by stepping away.
That deal had a tidy little storyline baked into it. The son of a Colts legend, once viewed as one of the sport’s most promising young receivers, landing with Indianapolis’ AFC South rival instead of returning to Lucas Oil Stadium.
It would have been an easy narrative to sell. But from the Colts’ perspective, the actual cost mattered more than the feel-good angle.
According to Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, the Texans sent the Cardinals a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick for Harrison Jr. and a 2027 seventh-round pick. For that kind of return, it’s easy to understand why Indianapolis didn’t stay in the mix.
Harrison Jr.’s production has slipped every year since he entered the league. As a rookie, he posted 885 yards and eight touchdowns.
In his second season, those numbers fell to 608 yards and four touchdowns. This season has been even quieter so far, with just five catches in four games.
There’s no denying the talent is there. Harrison Jr. has the size, body control, and ball-winning skill set that can make a receiver dangerous in a hurry. But the concerns around effort and inconsistency are real, and they’re exactly why giving up a second-rounder felt steep.
If Houston gets the version of Harrison Jr. it believes it can unlock, that’s a problem the Colts will have to deal with twice a year for the foreseeable future. Paired with Nico Collins, he could form a dangerous tandem. Still, the more likely outcome is that the Texans paid too much, and that choice could limit how well they can build out the rest of the roster.
That matters in a division that leaves little room for wasted assets. If the Texans are tied up by this move, Indianapolis could wind up with a meaningful edge.
None of that changes the Colts’ own receiver problem, though. Passing on Harrison Jr. does not mean the position is solved.
Alec Pierce remains sidelined with a heel injury, and that leaves Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and Laquon Treadwell as Daniel Jones’ top options at receiver. That’s not enough for a team with playoff ambitions.
There may still be ways for Indianapolis to help the passing game without paying that kind of premium. Brian Thomas Jr. is off limits to a division rival, but Jerry Jeudy of the Cleveland Browns could be an option.
The Colts’ passing attack has fallen off significantly this season. Jones deserves some of that blame, but he hasn’t had the same support that fueled his success last year. Adding another legitimate receiver could be the jolt this offense needs.
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Rodgers showed up in a shirt nodding to a longtime Mike Tomlin coaching reminder, a detail that only added another layer to an already aggravating result for Indianapolis. Even if the on-field damage was done, the postgame tribute gave the Steelers a little extra edge in the conversation and left the Colts with one more irritant from a loss they would have preferred to leave in the rearview. [Read more 🡒]
Quenton Nelsons Frustration Sums Up A Growing Colts Problem
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Jonathan Taylor was held to 45 yards on 15 carries, and the lack of push in the run game forced Daniel Jones into a heavy workload with 44 pass attempts. For a team that wants to be physical first and control the pace, that kind of script is hard to ignore, especially when the rushing numbers never threaten to change it. [Read more 🡒]
Colts May Need A Trade Ballard Rarely Makes To Save This Defense
The Colts defensive issues have pushed a familiar front-office question back into the conversation: whether Chris Ballard will be willing to break from his usual in-season caution and chase help at edge rusher. Indianapolis has been searching for more impact off the edge, and the trade market is starting to look like one of the few places where the roster could get a real jolt before the season moves much further along.
Ballard has never been known for midseason swaps, which is part of why this feels like such a significant test of how desperate the Colts view the situation. The options on the board come with different levels of production and contract complexity, but the common thread is clear enough for Indianapolis: if the pass rush stays quiet, the defense may need outside help, and soon. [Read more 🡒]