Colts: Could latest Ravens update help Indy on the trade front?

With the NFL Draft a little over one week away, the Indianapolis Colts still haven’t addressed their left tackle vacancy, which has been an area of concern for several months now.

This has caused some unrest among fans, who clearly see the risk that would come with selecting the fourth or fifth-highest rated prospect in this year’s class and subsequently plugging him in at the most important position on the offensive line as a rookie.

For as much as we trust GM Chris Ballard to hit on whomever he drafts (his track record in the annual event deserves that much), we would have much more faith in the Colts’ offense moving forward if they opted for experience over youth at the left tackle position.

With that in mind, fans will absolutely love this free agency update.

According to the latest buzz, touted tackle Alejandro Villanueva, who remains unsigned after another dominant season in Pittsburgh, is scheduled to visit with the Ravens this week.

This could hint that an Orlando Brown trade is imminent for Baltimore. In the simplest of terms, we’d be all over this development if we were the Colts.

Did the door just open for the Colts to trade for Orlando Brown?

Brown, of course, came out earlier in the offseason to request a trade out of Baltimore, citing his desire to be a full-time left tackle as his reasoning. That opportunity clearly won’t be available to him with Ronnie Stanley holding down the position for the foreseeable future.

A report from the Indy Star last month claimed the Colts weren’t among the teams mulling a trade for Brown, but a lot could have changed between now and then. After all, we’ve heard nothing during that span to suggest that Baltimore is nearing a deal for their star tackle.

The Colts would obviously have to give up a haul for Brown, but you’d be hard-pressed to argue that he wouldn’t be worth it. Not only has he not missed a game over his three-year career, but he’s also a proven commodity at both tackle positions.

For context, Brown earned a 76.5 blocking grade from Pro Football Focus last season, which is incredibly impressive for someone who was forced into a position switch without any warning.

The only potential pitfall here is that Brown is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will be due for a lucrative extension next offseason. The Colts obviously wouldn’t trade for him as a rental, so they’d have to be prepared to pay him top of the market money.

With homegrown stars like Darius Leonard, Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith also in line for new deals, the Colts will either have to feature Smith in the trade or talk themselves into having four huge contracts (three of which would belong to OL) on their payroll.

However, if Ballard and Co. have the slightest reservations about a prospect they’re considering drafting in the first round, they should without a doubt get Baltimore on the phone and ask what they want in return for Brown.

Colts reportedly not among trade suitors for Orlando Brown and it feels wrong

The Indianapolis Colts reportedly aren't among the six teams interested in trading for start left tackle Orlando Brown and it feels wrong.