Should Colts trade all of their draft assets to maximize their Super Bowl window?
By Jerry Trotta
We’re normally not in the business of pointing out moral victories, but Indianapolis Colts fans would be hard-pressed not to view the 2020 campaign as a success.
After all, the team finished 11-5 and qualified for the playoffs after overcoming a slew of injuries to key players.
To put it simply, general manager Chris Ballard’s renovation project when he took over the reins four years ago is nearing completion, and this offseason will be critical as far as maximizing the Colts’ championship window.
If you think about it, Indy almost has all the requisite pieces in place to be able to compete for a title.
Not only is their roster largely composed of homegrown draft picks, but Ballard has been precise in his efforts to surround them with star talent through trades and free agency.
Well, seeing as though the Colts are seemingly knocking on the door of a Super Bowl, shouldn’t Ballard at least consider unloading as much draft capital as possible to really solidify the team’s chances to win a championship?
Zach Ertz was tired and nervous when he was first introduced to Philly in 2013.
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) March 11, 2021
He shed tears during what might have been a farewell in 2021.
A look at Ertz's career, what's ahead for the Eagles, and what's ahead for Ertz:https://t.co/RKOyq9JoZX
If the Colts are serious about maximizing their championship window, they would go for it all this offseason.
We know Ballard is the best GM in the league when it comes to the draft, but as presently constructed, this roster isn’t crying out for more young players who need a year or two to get acclimated to the speed of the NFL.
If anything, it needs players who are already in their respective primes and ready to fight tooth and nail against some of the league’s upper echelon teams in a playoff atmosphere.
With that in mind, the Colts should absolutely consider reuniting tight end Zach Ertz, who’s being floated in trade talks, with quarterback Carson Wentz. Though the 30-year-old is clearly one of the top players at his positions, Indy might be able to land him at a bargain given that he’s coming off his worst season since his rookie year.
And what about Orlando Brown? Per the latest buzz, the Colts are not one of the six reported teams interested in trading for the Ravens’ star tackle. At just 24 years old, Brown fits the age profile of the rest of Indy’s offensive line and has ambitions of playing left tackle full-time.
The last time we checked, the Colts are in the market for a franchise LT, and Brown already has two Pro Bowls under his belt. If Baltimore demands a first-round pick in return for the young stud, what exactly is stopping Ballard from pulling the trigger?
Report: #Colts not involved in trade talks for OT Orlando Brown https://t.co/NMRLCPJuXR
— TheColtsWire (@TheColtsWire) March 11, 2021
Wanting to stockpile picks? That’s no longer necessary given the current state of Indy’s roster, which means the same goes for a Stephon Gilmore trade. Per reports, the star cornerback’s market has taken a hit following his season-ending quad injury, which suggests that the Patriots are slowly losing any leverage they once had.
Gilmore is just a season removed from being named Defensive Player of the Year, so he’d be more capable taking over No. 1 CB duties on the Colts’ defense. A top-tier corner is one of the team’s biggest needs this offseason and it can be patched up by simply parting ways with a second-round draft pick.
As far as the defensive end and wide receiver positions are concerned, there should be enough cap space left over to make additions in free agency.
Are you picking up what we’re putting down here, Colts fans? This team is on the precipice of being championship-ready, so why not swing for the fences this offseason? We get not wanting to go for it all with the window just cracking open in 2020, but that’s precisely the time to strike given the NFL’s unforgiving nature.
