Colts: 3 trades back Chris Ballard can make in 2021 NFL Draft
By Mike Luciano
Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard is of the opinion that he would rather have something done right than done now, and his willingness to patiently build a team through the draft has been one of the major reasons that Indy has been so comfortable trading down over the years.
While Indianapolis has the No. 21 pick in the draft, they have several holes that need filling, including left tackle, No. 3 wide receiver, and edge rusher.
With some of their precious draft capital in the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles after the Carson Wentz trade, don’t be surprised if Indianapolis trades down again.
Ballard has built this whole team on trading down, as he has picked up stars like Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith via the Sam Darnold trade. Some 2019 dealing ended up with a second-round pick in 2020 that eventually became Michael Pittman Jr.
The Colts might decide to trade down once more, especially when several contenders could look to add that one missing piece they need to really assert themselves as contenders.
Doing so in one of these three scenarios could help set the Colts up nicely for the future.
Through trades, Colts GM Chris Ballard has turned his last 3 1st rounders into:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 28, 2020
2018: LG Quenton Nelson, RT Braden Smith, DE Kemoko Turay, RB Jordan Wilkins
2019: CB Rock Ya-Sin, DE Ben Banogu, CB Marvell Tell, WR Michael Pittman, Jr. (taken in 2020)
2020: DT DeForest Buckner
These 3 NFL Draft trades would be perfect for the Colts.
No. 3: The Steelers move up for a running back
Pittsburgh not only didn’t even try to run the ball for large chunks of the season in 2020, but they let their best running back go, as James Conner signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals. With Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, and Javonte Williams all in striking distance, the Steelers could find their man at pick No. 24.
However, if they want complete assurance that they can, and will, get their guy in this draft, the Steelers could look to trade up, as there is a team in the early 20s that could look to take Pittsburgh’s top running back away from them right under their noses.
The Colts could recoup a third-round pick in this Steelers trade.
The Steelers don’t need to worry about Indianapolis or the Tennessee Titans taking a running back, but the New York Jets, who also own the No. 23 pick in this draft, could scoop up a potential running mate for whomever they select at pick No. 2, likely BYU’s Zach Wilson.
Pittsburgh is committed to Ben Roethlisberger, meaning that whomever they take in the draft will be a complementary piece they will use to extend his shelf life, however misguided a philosophy that may be. If the Steelers want to commit to a ground-and-pound style on offense, giving the Colts a pick or two could be the only way to make sure the Jets don’t nab their top back.