Colts rumored to be inquiring about trade for 49ers offensive lineman

Indianapolis Colts fans are well aware of the team’s big vacancy along the offensive line following Anthony Castonzo’s retirement.

There’s been a ton of chatter in regards to how that void will be addressed: through the draft, spending big in free agency, shifting Quenton Nelson or Braden Smith to left tackle, or via the trade market.

Knowing general manager Chris Ballard, he’s going to be as cost-effective as he can possibly be.

That doesn’t mean he’s going to sacrifice quality when looking for a new offensive tackle, but he’s certainly not going to overpay or take a risk on a prospect he doesn’t fully trust as a Day 1 starter.

Surely, Ballard has earned your trust by now.

If he goes the route of the trade market, it appears, according to rumors, that he may have identified an extremely Ballard-like fit.

The Colts are reportedly interested in 49ers OL Mike McGlinchey.

Reuniting Mike McGlinchey with former Notre Dame teammate Quenton Nelson could do wonders for the Colts offensive line. McGlinchey was taken No. 9 overall in the 2018 draft and has started 44 games across his first three NFL seasons.

He started out as a right guard but has transitioned to right tackle, so if the Colts acquire him, he could be put on the right side and Braden Smith could shift over to left tackle. He’s had his struggles, but he received a good 79.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus in 2020. Indy can certainly work with that kind of production and help further develop him.

But why would the 49ers trade a cost-effective offensive lineman? That’s probably the biggest question.

Well, McGlinchey hasn’t exactly turned around the high first-round value he was supposed to. And if the 49ers pick up his fifth-year option, he’ll cost them around $17 million over the next two seasons. For a team with serious cap concerns in the short term, any kind of savings would go a long way. If they can get draft capital in return, too? That’s a win-win.

On the flip side, McGlinchey fits this Colts window in regards to years under contract, potential trade price, and cap hit. Ballard certainly doesn’t want to give up another high draft selection and he needs to make a number of high-cost additions in free agency (and via extensions) within the next two years.

Maybe McGlinchey’s play could elevate if he’s put on one of the best offensive lines in the sport. That’s certainly a better risk to take than using a first-round pick on an unproven talent. The Colts know what they can get out of the 26-year-old and he still has potential improve his craft.

Should Colts trade all of their draft assets to maximize their Super Bowl window?

Should the Indianapolis Colts just trade as many draft assets as possible this offseason to maximize their championship window?