Here are three trades the Colts can make before the 2020 deadline to bolster their playoff push.
The Indianapolis Colts impressively sit at 3-1 through the first month of the season despite being forced to overcome a rash of injuries to key players. Unfortunately for head coach Frank Reich, his team’s dismal injury luck doesn’t appear to be turning around anytime soon, as they came to play extremely banged up heading into Week 5.
In terms of long-term injuries, the likes of running back Marlon Mack and safety Malik Hooker were both lost for the season after suffering Achilles tears. Elsewhere, wideout tandem Parris Campbell (knee) and Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) are sidelined indefinitely.
Indianapolis’ impossibly bad injury luck is only amplified when you take into account players who have been sidelined for just one or two games. The most notable of that bunch include cornerback duo Rock Ya-Sin and TJ Carrie, as well as linebacker Darius Leonard and LT Anthony Castonzo.
Per Coach Reich, LT Anthony Castonzo and LB Darius Leonard have been ruled OUT for #INDvsCLE.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 9, 2020
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That got us thinking. The Colts don’t really have a ton of depth at two of those positions (offensive line and defensive back), so it would seriously behoove general manager Chris Ballard to browse the trade market for depth ahead of the rapidly approaching deadline. After all, Indy’s playoff push will be highly contingent upon the soundness of their secondary and consistency of their OL.
3. Trade for DJ Hayden
The Colts could really use more depth at the cornerback position.
We still can’t fathom how the Colts managed to lose to the Jaguars in Week 1. After showing promise in their first two games, Jacksonville has looked every bit the part of a team that will land a top pick in next year’s draft, losing by a combined 42 points over their last three contests.
Because of that, it wouldn’t be surprising if GM David Caldwell becomes a massive seller at the deadline. After trading away seemingly every notable contributor on their formerly elite defense over the last two offseasons, cornerback DJ Hayden is really the only alluring target remaining.
Jacksonville obviously isn’t going anywhere this season, so it would be smart of them to cash in on the 31-year-old vet before his deal expires at the end of the year. Hayden hasn’t performed like a player in a contract year, but that could change if he lands on a playoff contender at the deadline.
The Colts obviously fit that bill, and it’s not like they would rely heavily on Hayden, either. They currently have three starting-caliber CBs in Ya-Sin, Carrie, and Xavier Rhodes, who have performed lights out in the last few weeks. However, as previously mentioned, two of them have already missed time this season. Adding cornerback depth should be one of Ballard’s top priorities, and acquiring Hayden for a late-round pick would serve as an immediate upgrade.