This wild mock draft trade has Colts moving one of their best players for CJ Stroud

CJ Stroud now seems to be a realistic option for the Indianapolis Colts, and one expert believes Indy is willing to do whatever it takes to draft him.

The most recent draft storyline is that the Houston Texans aren’t planning to select a quarterback. Somewhere in the evaluation process, Houston went from a lock to take a QB at No. 2, to possibly drafting a defender or trading back. Whether that’s how the Texans really feel or just some well-placed smoke screens, will be found out on draft night. Regardless, quarterback-needy teams have to be thrilled about the possibility of selecting the second quarterback in the draft.

The Indianapolis Colts are one of those teams. With Bryce Young seemingly a lock to go No. 1 to the Carolina Panthers, the Colts could be the next team in the draft to select a QB if Houston and the Arizona Carindals aren’t interested. But, if the Texans and Cardinals are really willing to move, Indy won’t be the only interested teams. That means the Colts will have to trade up if they really want to land CJ Stroud instead of staying at No. 4 and drafting Anthony Richardson or Will Levis.

Trading up for Stroud is exactly what Peter Schrager has Indianapolis doing in his mock draft. However, the trade package may be a bit shocking. Schrager proposed two trades. The first was Indy sending Houston DeForest Buckner and the No. 4 pick to move up to No. 2. The second trade, one that fans will likely be more receptive to, was the Colts trading the No. 4 pick along with a second and third-round pick to move up those two spots.

Would Colts trade DeForest Buckner to draft CJ Stroud?

As promising as a prospect that CJ Stroud is, Indianapolis probably won’t be trading away DeForest Buckner to get him. Buckner is one of Indy’s best players, and is one of the better players in the league. Additionally, Buckner and the Colts have already put to bed all the trade rumors that were circulating earlier in the offseason. Buckner will be playing with Indianapolis next season.

However, the Colts should explore a trade to No. 2 if they truly believe Stroud is a better quarterback prospect than Anthony Richardson and Will Levis. If Indy doesn’t believe that there’s much of a separation between the three, then Indy can just stay at No. 4 and select whichever QB falls to them. Whatever the path, the Colts must make sure they leave the first round of the draft with the best quarterback possible.

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