A lot can change in one year. At the end of last season, the Indianapolis Colts’ general manager, Chris Ballard, was once again on the hot seat. While many expected that he would be fired, Ballard was given another chance. Fast forward to today, and Ballard is now commanding the hottest team in football.
After an underwhelming eight-year tenure in Indianapolis, Ballard knew that he needed to change his ways to turn around this franchise and save his job. The normally cautious spender took a more aggressive approach this past offseason. Ballard gambled on a new quarterback, drafted an offensive weapon in the first round, and signed a pair of standout defensive backs.
So far, Ballard’s moves have been paying off, and the Colts are firing on all cylinders with a 7-1 record. However, if Indianapolis wants to be a Super Bowl contender this year, Ballard may have to defy expectations again.
Chris Ballard could cement his team’s contender status with a midseason move
The Colts currently hold the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the league’s best record. And yet, the team still has plenty of skeptics. Some doubt that Daniel Jones can keep up his MVP-caliber play, but the most common criticism concerns the porous Indianapolis pass defense.
In an otherwise stellar season, the Colts have been exposed through the air on more than one occasion. Part of the problem is that Indianapolis has struggled to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks. The other issue is that the secondary is banged up and dependent on unproven talent.
The Colts could use a midseason jolt by adding a new face to their defense through a trade. An elite pass rusher — like Trey Hendrickson — could be a true difference-maker. More depth in the secondary — like Riq Woolen or Alontae Taylor — could solidify a weakened unit.
The only hang-up is that trading for impact players during the season has never been Ballard’s style. He prefers to exercise patience in roster construction and develop talent in-house. In fact, Ballard has only made one deal at the trade deadline since taking over the Indianapolis front office in 2016.
Taking a big midyear swing before the November 4 deadline would go against Ballard’s usual philosophy, but it may be exactly what the Colts need. Ballard has temporarily earned some respect from fans for his aggressive offseason and an impressive start to 2025. That being said, Ballard can’t afford to rest on his laurels. The doubters will be back unless he can continue proving people wrong.
After being shredded by Bo Nix, Matthew Stafford, Jacoby Brissett, and Justin Herbert, the Colts’ pass defense is their only glaring weakness. If Ballard can solve that problem, the NFL will be forced to recognize Indianapolis as one of the Super Bowl favorites. If he can’t, then the peanut gallery will only grow louder.