Colts Suddenly Face A Trade Deadline Twist Fans Can't Ignore

NFL insider Adam Schefter identifies key players, including Jonathan Taylor, who might shift the balance of power as the 2026 trade deadline looms.

The 2026 NFL trade deadline is getting close, and Adam Schefter just put a handful of major names on the watch list.

With the deadline set for Nov. 10, teams have roughly two weeks to figure out whether they’re buying, selling or bracing for a reshaped roster. One of the loudest storylines right now centers on Indianapolis, where a rough 2-4 start has put Jonathan Taylor in the middle of plenty of trade chatter. But Taylor is only part of the picture.

On Sunday, Schefter named five players to keep an eye on ahead of the deadline, and he started with the Colts running back. “There’s going to be a lot of interest in Taylor around the league,” he said.

“Teams like the Seattle Seahawks, the Minnesota Vikings, the Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers made a run at Jonathan Taylor a couple of years back. (They) could decide to call Indianapolis again.”

Indianapolis could be the most active seller in the market, and two more Colts joined Taylor on Schefter’s list: guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.

Brian Thomas Jr. was another name Schefter highlighted. His future has drawn plenty of attention lately, even though the Jacksonville Jaguars have been reluctant to part with him.

Rounding out the group was Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack, who could also be on the move. Schefter mentioned the Kansas City Chiefs as a possible landing spot, though Andy Reid’s team may have competition for the veteran.

More names could surface over the next couple of weeks, but Indianapolis looks like the franchise that could have the biggest influence on how the trade market takes shape.

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For Denver, the question is whether it wants to turn a passing interest into something more serious if Indianapolis decides to listen on veterans. The Colts internal picture is not entirely clear, either, since owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon reportedly still sees Taylor as a key part of the organization moving forward, leaving any potential move caught between a roster reset and a player the team may still want to build around. [Read more 🡒]