The Colts’ decision to blow things up on Tuesday may have created an unexpected winner far from Indianapolis or Seattle.
Indianapolis sent eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the defending champion Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. A few hours later, the Colts moved another cornerstone, dealing star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Those are significant departures on their own, but the bigger picture may be even more striking. ESPN’s Field Yates noted that the Colts’ trades could be just the beginning, and that matters because the New York Jets own Indianapolis’ 2027 first-round pick. If the Colts continue to strip down the roster and the losses pile up, New York could wind up holding the most valuable piece in the whole sequence.
The Jets already made one major move last November when they sent Sauce Gardner to the Colts for Indianapolis’ 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, plus wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. At the time, it looked like a swing by a Colts team built for a deep run, and two first-rounders for an elite cornerback felt like a fair price. But Indianapolis unraveled late last season and has never really gotten back on track.
New York also shipped defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to Dallas, landing a 2026 second-round pick, defensive tackle Mazi Smith and a 2027 first-round pick. Right now, that leaves the Jets sitting on three first-rounders in the 2027 NFL Draft: their own, Indianapolis’, and Dallas’. Depending on how the season plays out, all three could land in the top 10.
At 2-5, the Jets are already in position to benefit from the chaos. They still have Geno Smith at quarterback, but the long-term answer under center remains unresolved.
The draft capital gives them the flexibility to chase it. And while the roster still includes Demario Davis, Minkah Fitzpatrick, No. 2 overall pick David Bailey, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, the real question for New York is simple: if they can solve quarterback, the rest of this setup could turn fast.
In Other News...
Seahawks Win Over Chiefs Sparked A Viral Game-Day Mystery
The Seahawks win over the previously undefeated Chiefs gave Seattle a much-needed lift, moving the team to 4-3 and putting a spotlight on a performance that had plenty of contributions across the board. Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the way through the air with nine catches for 150 yards and a touchdown, while Emmanuel Wilson added balance on the ground with 100 rushing yards and a score.
For a game that will be remembered in Seattle for the result, it also produced a strange side story that quickly took on a life of its own online. A viral photo from the game showing a person in bright clothing drew a wave of social media reactions, turning a regular game-day image into the kind of mystery fans could not stop talking about. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Sent A Painful Message About Their Deadline Plans
The Seahawks made a major move to shore up their offensive line, landing All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson from the Colts in a deal that sends a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-rounder to Indianapolis. Seattle is also taking on the remaining $9.777 million on Nelsons contract, a sign this was the kind of front-line addition the team was willing to pay for as it looks to fortify its protection up front.
For Indianapolis, the timing of the trade says plenty about where things stand with the deadline approaching and how aggressively the Colts are willing to deal established talent. Nelson is in the final year of his contract, so Seattle is getting a proven starter with no long-term certainty attached, while the Colts turn a premier blocker into future draft capital and leave open what comes next as the market keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks May Have Found A Defensive Weapon Opponents Can't Match
Nick Emmanwori keeps giving the Seahawks a little more reason to believe their defense has a rare piece in the mix. In the 20-3 win over the Chiefs, he showed up all over the field, making plays as a defensive back, sliding into off-ball linebacker work and even lining up as an edge rusher. For a Seattle unit that leaned on its run defense to control the game, his range and flexibility stood out as much as anything else.
Mike Macdonald and several teammates have already pointed to Emmanworis versatility as a real asset, and the best part for Seattle is that this is still early in the season. He is back from ankle surgery and has already logged meaningful snaps in a variety of roles through six games, which gives the Seahawks a lot to work with as they keep sorting out how to deploy him. The intriguing part now is less about whether he can fit in and more about how far they can push that role as the year goes on. [Read more 🡒]