The Indianapolis Colts are being talked about as potentially holding a fire sale now that general manager Chris Ballard has been fired. Part of the issue is whether an acting GM, who happens to be Ed Dodds, has the power to give away so many valuable players. Ownership might give him the green light.
Of course, that might also make a presumptive GM pause before accepting the job in Indy. How long would it take to rebuild the team and get it back to being a playoff contender? Having a lot of draft picks would at least help build for the long term.
The Colts' roster is top-heavy, but several players should be able to bring back good draft capital. A first-round choice for anyone? Maybe not, but quite a few second-rounders maybe, and those could be packaged to move back into the first round in 2027, a pick that Indianapolis currently doesn't have because Chris Ballard gave it away for Sauce Gardner.
4 Indianapolis Colts players who could be traded for good draft value
Jonathan Taylor to the Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have every opportunity to take advantage of a perfect start to the season. The team was already elite defensively, and unfortunately, Daniel Jones and the Indy offense will probably be reminded of that in Week 7, but their running attack could improve. Few players are going to improve it as much as Taylor.
Would the Colts move Taylor just a couple of months after Indy signed him to an extension? No player should be unmovable at this point. He is expensive, but Minnesota would pay for what they get, and that is one of the best backs in the league.
In return, Indianapolis should ask for a second-rounder and a 2028 third-rounder. That is what the San Francisco 49ers gave the Carolina Panthers for Christian McCaffrey in 2022.
DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are another unbeaten team, but they seemingly keep doing that with smoke and mirrors. Just like last season, San Francisco has had loads of injuries, and Buckner would immediately improve a banged-up defensive line. Plus, Buckner should feel comfortable going back to the Bay Area, the place where he began his career.
The question is how much a team is willing to give Indianapolis in draft value for Buckner. He is an elite player in All-Pro form in 2026, but he is also 32 years old and a free agent next year. If Indianapolis could get a third-round pick, the Colts should take it. At this point, the franchise has to accumulate picks to build for the future.
Sauce Gardner to the Seattle Seahawks
Would Indianapolis be so quick to give up Gardner after the Colts just acquired him last season? Why not? After all, it was Chris Ballard who pulled off that deal and gave up too much for the cornerback (two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell). Getting a high-round choice in a new Gardner trade would offset some of the loss.
Gardner is a very good player, but Indianapolis has to get younger at many positions. The cornerback is one of the few players who could see a first-round pick come back in a trade, or a second-round selection and another high-round pick.
The Seahawks just won the Super Bowl, but are struggling at cornerback this season after watching Riq Woolen leave in free agency. Gardner fixes their need, and Seattle has five picks in the first three rounds in 2027, so it has the draft value to give in return for Gardner.
Quenton Nelson to the Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are off to a good start at 4-2, but every team in the NFC North only has two losses. That means the battle for the top could last for most of the season. Where Baltimore is struggling is at left guard, and Nelson obviously fixes that.
The only issue is that Baltimore has some real cap problems in 2027 and might not be able to afford Nelson, who is a free agent next year, so his addition might only be a half-season win. The Ravens do have a pick in the second and third rounds of 2027, and at least one in those rounds are what the Indianapolis Colts would need to trade their future Hall of Famer.
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