It seems that the Indianapolis team has the offense covered, but they do not disregard seeing what the market offers on the other side of the ball
INDIANAPOLIS — With the transfer deadline of the NFL approaching quickly, it is important to keep in mind the following about the Indianapolis Colts: Chris Ballard He has only made one trade to acquire a player near the deadline in his nine seasons as general manager of the Colts.
And even that agreement, down the corridor Zack Moss in 2023, it was carried out mainly to facilitate the exit of the corridor Nyheim Hineswho had requested the exchange and was sent to Buffalo as part of the transaction.
So, no, Ballard has never been known for being a great negotiator this time of year. Of course, Ballard has never had a team like those. Colts of this year.
Indianapolis is 7-1 entering Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelerswith the best record in the league and the most powerful offense in American football. Confidence in the franchise is so high that it seems anything is possible.
“The atmosphere is fantastic,” the tight end described. For Alie-Cox this week.
All of this brings us to the Tuesday afternoon deadline, which gives Ballard the opportunity to bolster a roster that is proving to be very talented for a potential big finish to the season.
Could the Colts make a last-minute move to position yourself for the playoffs? Are they even looking for options?
Here’s what we know, according to our sources.
Los Colts They continue to look for possible transfers, and have even contacted some. These transfers did not materialize because potential business partners quickly withdrew.
A player who has been constantly linked with the Colts He is the defensive end of the Cincinnati Bengals, Trey Hendrickson. But the Colts They believe the veteran pass rusher will not be traded. Hendrickson ended a months-long strike in August when he finally showed up after signing a renegotiated contract that gave him a pay raise for this season.
If the Bengals reconsider their stance on Hendrickson—they have told teams they will not trade him unless they receive exorbitant compensation in draft picks—it is likely that the Colts show interest.
In that sense, the defense has been the main reason of interest of the Coltsaccording to one source.
Offensively, the Colts They are in a great moment. They lead the NFL in points scored, yards per game and yards per play. The Field Marshal Daniel Jones is experiencing an impressive resurgence. The runner Jonathan Taylor He is the top runner in the NFL and aspires to the Most Valuable Player award.
On defense, the results have been much more irregular.
Indianapolis has overcome its defensive failures in part thanks to its high turnover rate (the Colts are tied with Tampa Bay in third place with 12 recoveries). This has helped the Colts to keep teams out of the end zone, ranking sixth in defense (19.3 points per game). But the Colts They rank 30th in third-down defense and 24th in yards allowed per game, numbers that could leave them exposed during a potential playoff run.
“We’ve got to figure that out,” the defensive tackle said. DeForest Buckner on Thursday.
To that end, according to one source, trade talks have focused on defensive ends and cornerbacks: the two positions at which Colts They have been more vulnerable this season.
So far, pass rushers have been difficult to find, by all indications. The Colts They have mostly run into dead ends in their attempts to get one, one source said. Cornerbacks have already been included in several recent trades around the league, but those traded have primarily been slot defenders. The Coltswith his starting cornerback Charvarius Ward on the disabled list and a series of injuries in the secondary, they are more interested in acquiring an outside cornerback.
Meanwhile, the Colts They continue searching, while time continues to tick.
