The Colts didn’t blow up the 2026 trade deadline, but they still came away with a roster that feels thinner now and a future that’s still very much a work in progress. Indianapolis kept Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones in place, made no truly stunning moves, and walked out with a collection of draft picks that points more toward patience than an instant reset.
That’s the strange part of this deadline: the present took a hit, but the long view got a little clearer. The Colts now have 10 draft picks in 2027, though nearly all of them sit on Day 3.
By the time the 2027 season rolls around, the franchise could also be under a new general manager and possibly a new coaching staff. There’s a path here, but it’s not a clean one.
One of the biggest beneficiaries is Shane Steichen, at least on paper. Indianapolis let him keep both Jones and Taylor, which means the rest of this season is now squarely on his shoulders.
He’s still the same coach with a 7-25 record against teams that are .500 or better, so if the Colts squeeze something meaningful out of the roster they kept, that would be on him. But the organization also passed on a chance to reshape things more aggressively, including moving Taylor and adding more draft value.
The move that did bring back something of note involved Keenan Allen. The veteran receiver was sent to the San Francisco 49ers, giving him a shot to finish his career with a playoff team.
For Indianapolis, the return was a sixth-round 2027 pick. For a 34-year-old slot receiver who was unsigned until deep into the preseason, that’s a decent outcome for the Colts, even if it doesn’t change the bigger picture much.
The next general manager is the one left holding the bag. Indianapolis had a chance to lean all the way into a rebuild, but instead the returns from four trades, including deals involving Quenton Nelson, Josh Downs, and DeForest Buckner, were mostly Day 3 picks.
There’s no first-round pick in 2027, and that leaves the new GM with a roster puzzle that’s harder to solve quickly. There’s also the Daniel Jones question looming right away: keep him, or move on and save $38 million?
Either way, the Colts didn’t come away with enough premium draft capital to make the transition easy.
Taylor comes out of the deadline as a loser in a different sense. He already had his extension, so he was secure financially, but he remains stuck on a team that doesn’t look built to chase a Super Bowl during the prime of his career.
Unless something changes before next season, his best chance to land on a contender may have to wait until the offseason. That’s not the kind of runway a player like Taylor wants.
Seth McGowan also loses out in the short term. If Taylor had been moved, the rookie could have jumped into the RB1 role right away.
Instead, he’s locked into RB2 duties at least through 2028. There’s still a path for him to grow into a bigger role later, and he may end up more valuable as a kick returner, but the immediate opportunity is gone.
He’s flashed starter ability, just not the kind of opening that would have come with Taylor out of the picture.
Jones is in a rough spot too, even if he gets to stay with Steichen. The two have a clear connection, but the quarterback’s situation is only getting tougher.
He was already working with a weak receiving group, and now Alec Pierce is out for the foreseeable future, while Keenan Allen and Josh Downs are both gone for good. Tyler Warren is now his top target, and defenses will know that every week.
The offense figures to lean heavily on the run, and Week 10 against the Miami Dolphins could be the ugliest game in the history of the NFL.
In Other News...
Colts Could Lose Josh Downs For Less Than Fans Would Want
Josh Downs has become one of the more interesting names to watch as the trade market starts to take shape, and the Colts may have a decision on their hands if interest keeps building. Sports Illustrateds Albert Breer reported that Kansas City is looking hard for receiver help after injuries and uneven production have thinned out its group, and Downs fits the kind of player a contender could target to add speed and reliability to an offense.
For Indianapolis, the appeal is obvious because Downs is under contract through the 2026 season, giving the team some control over the situation. Still, if the market keeps pointing in one direction, the Colts may have to weigh whether moving a productive young receiver now is worth it, especially with a draft pick package that would test how much value they believe he carries. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Sent Another Clear Signal About What Comes Next
The Colts have continued to trim around the edges of a roster that looks increasingly headed toward a reset, moving another veteran on an expiring contract as the front office keeps signaling what comes next. Keenan Allen is the latest name out the door, part of a broader sell-off that fits the expectation that Indianapolis will be rebuilding rather than trying to patch together a run with short-term pieces.
Allens arrival in Indianapolis never looked like a long-term marriage, and his production this season gave the Colts a useful midseason asset to move while there was still a market. For a team already dealing with the reality of a changing roster, the deal is another reminder that the focus has shifted away from the present and toward clearing space for whatever the next version of the Colts will be. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Keep Falling Behind As Doubt Around Shane Steichen Grows
The Colts have spent much of this season trying to keep pace despite a roster hit by injuries, the departure of general manager Chris Ballard and a growing list of self-inflicted mistakes. Shane Steichens team has still shown enough fight to stay competitive in stretches, but the results have not followed, and the frustration around the operation has only deepened as the losses pile up.
What makes the situation more uneasy is that the criticism is no longer just about execution on the field. The Colts are being measured against the rest of the AFC South and coming up short in the standings conversation, which only sharpens the pressure on the people steering the franchise. With the season trending in the wrong direction, the questions around what changes come next are becoming harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]