Colts GM Chris Ballard Says Team is Open to Trading Down in Draft
By Ryan Stano
During the NFL Combine, Colts GM Chris Ballard talked with Colin Cowherd. In his interview, he indicated the Colt are open to trading down in the upcoming draft.
The number three overall pick in the 2018 draft has been a hot topic of conversation among Colts fans. Everyone has an opinion of what to do with it. GM Chris Ballard seems to understand this and has his own idea on what to do with it.
During an interview with Colin Cowherd, Ballard indicated that he would field phone calls from other teams right up until they have to make a selection. He said the organization is willing to hear proposals from teams, and if one makes sense they could pull the trigger.
A team would have to offer several things for the Colts to move down in a loaded top half of the draft. They would need to swap first round picks with the Colts, and more than likely offer their second round pick as well as next year’s first rounder as well. Indianapolis very much values that number three slot.
If the Colts did trade down, there are a number of players they could take depending on how far down the move. It would be unexpected for them to move out of the top ten, so there would still be some good players available. Ballard could opt to take an offensive lineman, perhaps Quenton Nelson out of Notre Dame or Connor Williams out of Texas. Or they could take a linebacker like Roquan Smith from Georgia.
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No matter what the scenario, the Colts seem unlikely to trade down. Unless both Saquon Barkley and Bradley Chubb are off the board by the time they pick, they will stay at three and pick one of those two players. The only way they do trade down with those players still on the board is if they get a king’s ransom offer that they couldn’t refuse.