Colts GM Chris Ballard: “We Can Still Get Premium Player at 6”
By Ryan Stano
The Colts traded down in the draft a couple of weeks ago. They traded their third pick to get the sixth pick and additional picks. GM Chris Ballard explained his rationale on Adam Schefter’s podcast.
Appearing on ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s podcast, Colts GM Chris Ballard went through the team’s thought process when it came to trading down in the draft with the Jets. He let it known that the organization still thinks they can get a premium player at the sixth spot.
Ballard would go on to say that they knew the Jets would probably be looking at a quarterback, so that allowed them to make the deal. The Colts won’t be drafting a quarterback in the first round anytime soon, so that wasn’t an issue.
He also said that they weren’t interested in trading down too far because they still wanted to get a “premium” player. Who that player is, he didn’t specify. But knowing what the Colts need, it could be Saquon Barkley, Bradley Chubb, Quenton Nelson, or even Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Ballard also said that the organization is prepared for whatever scenario happens in front of them. He said he saw the worst case scenario being two quarterbacks taken in front of him. That little amount of quarterbacks means that potentially all of the great players mentioned above would be taken before the Colts can draft.
Based on what he said, the Colts are in a good position. They feel comfortable where they are at in the draft order. If there was another draft day trade, it would be wildly unexpected. The Colts should stay at six and get one of the players that they covet.
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The Colts don’t seem too worried about free agency anymore and seem more focused on the draft. Ballard wants to build the team through the draft, and that trade with the Jets can help them do just that.