With the upstart Indianapolis Colts holding the league’s best record at 7-1, general manager Chris Ballard figures to be aggressive at the trade deadline.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Colts are in the market for a corner but could also add to their edge rusher group.
However, Breer also opens the door for the possibility that the Colts will move their own players at the deadline, and more specifically one of their wide receivers, as teams are calling to inquire about them.
Breer wonders if perhaps the Colts could use one of their wideouts in a package to acquire a player at a position of need.
As for buyers, the Vikings and Colts are among a list of teams looking for corners. That market isn’t rich with options, which could make the Rams (McCreary), Browns (Tyson Campbell) and Eagles (Michael Carter II) look smart for striking a little earlier. Indy could also look at adding an edge player, and teams have called to inquire on the Colts’ own surplus of receivers, so a wideout could end up being a chip for them in a trade.
The Colts have a strong trio of wideouts in Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs and Alec Pierce, and they have second-year receiver Adonai Mitchell buried on the depth chart.
We’re hesitant to believe the Colts would want to upset the apple cart and move any of the top three considering how well their offense has played, and Mitchell currently has little to no value after his lackluster season-plus in the NFL.
If the Colts were to move one of Pierce, Pittman or Downs, Pierce is the most likely candidate due to the fact he’s in the final year of his contract, but he’s also an important piece in Indy’s elite offense, ranking third in receiving yards.
The Colts don’t really have a dire need at edge rusher.
Granted, Indy doesn’t have an elite player at the position, but the Colts are tied for the fifth-most sacks in the NFL and they have a fairly deep group as is with Kwity Paye, Tyquan Lewis, Laiatu Latu and Samson Ebukam.
Cornerback is probably the Colts’ biggest need. Indianapolis ranks 29th against the pass and the retirement of Xavien Howard has left an already suspect group with even less talent than it entered the season with.
Our prediction: the Colts will make an addition at cornerback while standing pat at edge rusher, and we could see Mitchell getting moved for a late-round pick given his issues this season.
NFL Trade Rumors
