The Indianapolis Colts have finally pulled the plug. In the span of four hours, they moved on from All-Pro LG Quenton Nelson and superstar DT DeForest Buckner. At 2-5 and with no first-round pick or general manager, this is hardly surprising.
Buckner had already voiced his frustration with the situation, and how could anyone blame him? He was balling, posting 4.0 sacks in seven games at 32, after suffering a career-threatening neck injury. If anything, the team did right by him by sending him back to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Colts are most likely waving the white flag on the season with these two moves. And while some will definitely suffer from Buckner's departure, other people might benefit. Let's take a look at the winners and losers from this transaction.
3 winners and 3 losers from the Indianapolis Colts' decision to trade DeForest Buckner
Winner: Adetomiwa Adebawore
It was a matter of time before Adetomiwa Adebawore made his way to the starting lineup, though it would've been better if it were because he was outplaying Grover Stewart. Regardless, he's about to step into a primary role in the center of the defense now.
Adebawore has taken a big leap as a pass rusher this season. His raw strength and athleticism have made him an absolute nightmare to contain for opposing offensive lines, and this might be the beginning of his journey to stardom.
Loser: Lou Anarumo
The fact that Lou Anarumo still has a job is somewhat surprising, but he might be packing his bags now. The Colts just gave up their best player, and while they still have solid run-stoppers, Buckner was also great in coverage for a defensive tackle.
The Colts gave Anarumo all the pieces he asked for and needed to establish his system, and he failed. This is the beginning of the end for this regime, and it'll be his second consecutive failed stint after leaving the Bengals.
Winner: Tim Smith
Thus far, Tim Smith has been an afterthought in the Colts' defense. He has a grand total of 60 defensive snaps this season, and he has yet to top 15 snaps in a single game. That should obviously change now.
While he will still be behind Grover Stewart and Jerry Tillery in the pecking order, the 2025 draft pick will have more opportunities to prove his worth. Whether he'll make the most of the expanded role might be a different story.
Loser: Daniel Jones
All signs point to the Colts hitting the reset button. That means Daniel Jones, who's played a huge part in the team's struggles this season, likely won't get another run as the team's starter. With the way he's played, he won't get another big contract elsewhere, either.
Jones has regressed to his worst version this season, but more often than not, the Colts' defense could count on DeForest Buckner to make a play and give them the ball back. Now he might be facing larger deficits each week.
Winner: CJ Allen
CJ Allen missed the loss to the Vikings with an ankle injury, and he's been in and out of the field, either because of ailments or because he's behind in his development. But now, with the Colts likely giving up on the season, they should at least give their second-round pick a longer leash.
There's literally no reason not to play CJ Allen extensively now. The team is already losing, so why not help him get through the growing pains? At this point, not getting him and all the rookies on the field is a disservice.
Loser: Grover Stewart
Grover Stewart is an impending free agent, and the Colts are leaving him on an island right now. Not having Buckner by his side will only expose his limitations at 33, and that won't look great on tape when he asks for another deal.
The Colts just lost their best defensive player, and that's about to have a massive ripple effect all through the defensive line. Stewart's numbers and impact had already been underwhelming before this trade.
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