The Indianapolis Colts moved four players just before or at the 2026 trade deadline who had expiring deals. The list did not include defensive lineman Grover Stewart, though a social media report from an "NFL insider" made it appear as if Indy had turned down a potential trade for the veteran.
Jordan Schultz of his self-titled Schultz Report tweeted, "Sources: The Colts had an offer for DT Grover Stewart last week involving a fourth-round pick and another late-round pick, but waited on it, and it was ultimately pulled."
If that were the case and taken verbatim, Indianapolis would have been foolish to turn down the deal. After all, the Colts traded defensive lineman DeForest Buckner for only a fourth-round pick, and Buckner is the more well-rounded and better player of the two. Stewart for seemingly two picks? How could the Colts say no?
Potential Indianapolis Colts trade of Grover Stewart was not everything that it appeared to be
In reality, the rumored trade appears to have involved Stewart and an Indy draft pick for a fourth-rounder. Maybe. In other words, the trade would have basically been a late-round pick swap, and Stewart would have been involved as well. That is based on what the extremely reputable James Boyd of The Athletic said on his morning radio show on 107.5 The Fan in Indianapolis.
Why does this matter? Because it appears to show that, despite what some fans have suggested on social media, owner Carlie Iray-Gordon and acting general manager Ed Dodds are approaching the team's rebuild logically. The team doesn't need to give up players simply for the sake of giving them up. The value in return needs to be solid.
Some could easily argue that Indianapolis didn't get enough back for Buckner (a fourth-rounder from the San Francisco 49ers should have been at least a third-round pick) or Quenton Nelson (third-round and fifth-round picks from the Seattle Seahawks should have included a second-round choice), but giving up Stewart while exchanging late-round picks would have been wrong.
The Indianapolis Colts could lose Grover Stewart in free agency next year, and maybe they should. If Stewart wants to keep playing, he should join a team that has a real chance at the playoffs. The rebuilding Colts won't be in that position in 2027, most likely.
He could re-sign with Indy, but the team should do him a favor and not bring him back. Let him leave of his own accord and find success elsewhere. He deserves that.
But the Colts also didn't need to sell themselves short in a trade involving the defensive lineman. A fourth-rounder for Stewart would have been a steal. Schultz seems to have suggested that was the case. The reality, according to James Boyd, is that Indy would have given Stewart away for nothing. Iray-Gordon and Dodds made the right decision.
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