As the 2025 NFL trade deadline approaches, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard finds himself in a very pleasant position. He has one of the best teams in the NFL. He has a relatively young and balanced roster. He even has some decent trading chips. If he wants to make a deal to boost the chances of a Colts’ Super Bowl run, he can operate out of a position of strength.
At the same time, now is not the time to make wild swings for the fences. Ballard has built the roster carefully. There is certainly more work to be done, but the Colts are not riding some magical wave that is likely to crash when the clock strikes midnight on the 2025 season.
In other words, explore deals at the trade deadline. But do not trade away a bright future on a major deal that may or may not work out. There are several big names floating around the trade rumor mills, and a couple of them play positions that Indy needs. But do they really make sense right now?
The Colts will find players who can help them this season on the fringes of the trade market
There are two obvious areas where Ballard should be looking. His secondary has been decimated by injury this year. And his pass-rushing edges have failed to perform at a very high level. Though teams always need help at cornerback, I would focus my attention on the edges.
That’s partly due to the fact that there may be better bargains available amongst those edge defenders. I’ve already weighed in on the cornerbacks who make the most sense to me – Tennessee’s Roger McCreary. Whether Ballard can acquire him or not, adding help on the edge will benefit all the pass defenders.
The biggest names on the rumor market are the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby and Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson. Given the connection Hendrickson has to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo - (Anarumo coached Hendrickson in Cincy for the past four seasons)- many analysts see the Colts as a logical fit.
But the Bengals have given no indication that they are prepared to part with their best pass rusher, and many insiders think a trade is not in the cards.
Crosby is even harder to figure out. He has said often that he intends to remain with the Raiders his entire career. But things are very bad in Las Vegas right now, and there is not a lot of hope on the horizon. Would both the player and team decide its in everyone’s interest to start anew?
If Crosby is genuinely available, Chris Ballard has to make the phone call. He is not only an excellent player – he is inspirational. No defensive lineman in the NFL is on the field as much as Crosby. In a league of relentless defenders, he may top them all.
For the record, I think Hendrickson, as good as he is, would not be a great risk given what the Bengals' asking price is likely to be. He is about to turn 31, and though he has been very durable and reliable, players sometimes begin falling off around that age. There’s no argument that the Colts would be better with Trey Hendrickson lining up on the edge, but there may be better bargains out there.
Jermaine Johnson, New York Jets
Johnson is a tall, rangy edge who was on the verge of stardom in 2023. He recorded 7.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl in just his second season. Then, in the second week of 2024, he tore his Achilles and was out for the year.
Though timelines are getting shorter with advances in rehab, an Achilles can easily set a player back more than a full year. Johnson has yet to show his 2023 form, but there is a good chance he could be rounding into peak shape late this season.
The Jets are a trainwreck. Under normal circumstances, there is no way they would deal away a player like Johnson, but given their situation, they may be desperate. Ballard might be able to get a bargain by offering a combination of mid-level picks and perhaps a young prospect. It could pay off in a major way come playoff time.
Kingsley Enagbare, Green Bay
Enagbare is a little bit like Johnson, without the injury. Enagbare’s decline has been attributable to the arrival of Micah Parsons. Enagbare did not enter the league with the pedigree of Jermaine Johnson. Johnson was a first-round pick. Enagbare went in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. And his production wasn’t as immediate.
But he has been a steady performer, able to generate pass pressure as a rotational player. He does not knock Kwity Paye out of the starting spot (as Johnson might eventually do), but he provides a younger, ascending presence who could surpass what Tyquan Lewis and (now injured) Samson Ekubam have offered this season.
The Packer’s willingness to trade Enagbare might depend on how healthy third-year edge Lukas Van Ness is. If they expect Van Ness to be at full strength soon, then flipping Enagbare for a day three pick makes sense.
Arden Key, Tennessee
Key is a tall, lanky pass rusher, who looks at times like a slimmed down version of Laiatu Latu. He has always been effective generating pass pressure and though he is far from spectacular, lining him up opposite Latu would provide two bookend edges who will make passing lanes very tough for opposing quarterbacks.
Tennessee may be engaging in a fire sale as they look to add draft assets to help rookie QB Cam Ward. That means that Key would not be the only player of interest who could be available.
It also means that they may be intrigued by the prospect of AD Mitchell, an undeniably talented wideout who could give Ward a very good weapon if he can shake off the inconsistency that has plagued his early career. Key could be one piece of a bigger puzzle involving the Titans. Who, I'll just remind everyone, also has Roger McCreary.
I don’t really know if Ballard is looking to deal Mitchell, but it would make some sense. Indy has a good receiving corps and may be extending Alec Pierce soon. Mitchell has had his share of problems but his upside must interest teams in need of playmakers. Ballard also has a fairly strong complement of draft picks to juggle. That gives him bargaining power.
Even so, there is no reason to panic and make a risky move at this point. Especially not when there are lower-risk option that work out very nicely.