ESPN’s Bill Barnwell took on a league-wide exercise that ended up shining a bright light on the Indianapolis Colts’ most valuable pieces heading into 2026.
Barnwell looked across all 32 teams and asked a simple question: which players could realistically bring back a first-round pick if they were traded? The point wasn’t to suggest any of those players are actually on the move. It was a snapshot of how the league values them.
For the Colts, three names made the cut: Sauce Gardner, Laiatu Latu and Tyler Warren.
Gardner was the headliner, with Barnwell putting him in the tier that would fetch two first-round picks. That matches the kind of price the Colts paid to get him last season.
He appeared in only four games in a Colts uniform, but the impact showed up fast. Gardner tightened things up in coverage and gave Lou Anarumo the freedom to be more aggressive.
"Gardner's an elite player who should still have years of excellent football ahead," Barnwell wrote. "I like his chances of exceeding expectations after a full offseason under Lou Anarumo in Indianapolis."
Latu also landed on Barnwell’s list, projected to bring back a first-round pick and more. His second season didn’t always grab headlines, but the production off the edge jumped.
"He's not as exciting or as promising as Jared Verse, but I'm not sure there's a huge gap between the two as they each enter Year 3 of their respective careers," wrote Barnwell.
Then there’s Warren, who Barnwell believes would also command a first-rounder. As a rookie, he was one of the most productive tight ends in football, and his all-around game gives Shane Steichen more ways to build the offense.
"The issue is simply that teams don't typically trade first-round picks or even use them for tight ends," wrote Barnwell. "Warren's status as a mid-first-rounder in the 2025 draft and his success as a rookie would lead more teams to consider him as a useful option."
Two notable Colts were left off the list: guard Quenton Nelson and running back Jonathan Taylor. Barnwell’s reasoning for both came down to positional value, not a knock on their talent.
DeForest Buckner also missed the cut, with Barnwell pointing to his age and neck injury. Alec Pierce was another omission, with Barnwell noting that some view his salary as "too rich for Pierce's established level of production."
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