The Indianapolis Colts might be on the move again.
After making a deal with the New York Jets, trading the third pick in the NFL draft, it appears the team may look to move back again, acquiring draft picks in the process.
The Jets acquired the third pick in the draft, with the believe the organization will pick another franchise quarterback. Indianapolis, sitting in the sixth position could look to solidify the offensive line, or hope someone like Bradley Chubb the pass rusher from North Carolina State, falls to them.
Chris Ballard, the Indianapolis Colts general manager, spoke on NFL network’s Good Morning Football on Friday. He was asked whether he is prepared to trade down from the sixth spot if the opportunity arose, allowing the team to continue to stockpile additional pics.
“We feel good about the player that will be there,” Ballard said. So, when we made the [trade with the Jets from No. 3 to No. 6] we thought a lot about the depth of the draft, where it ended if there were two quarterbacks ago in the top six pics, are we going to feel comfortable with the fourth best position a player? And we do. We feel very comfortable with that.”
Now, the Indianapolis Colts play a waiting game as four of the top five selections could be quarterbacks.
There is also talk of team’s looking to trade up to acquire signal callers should they fall out of the top five selections. While it is thought to the Cleveland Browns have been in the driver seat in terms of having the first and the fourth selection in the first round, the Colts may hold the cards to the second tier of teams looking to find their franchise quarterback.
Indianapolis is hoping to Andrew Luck will be the opening day starter after missing last year due to complications from off-season shoulder surgery. Still, I trade could be made prior to the draft next week or on draft night.
“We will be open to moving back if we think it is the right thing for us to do and there’s enough players on the board — depending on how far we have to move back — that we feel comfortable taking,” Ballard explained.
The Colts have been linked to guard Quentin Nelson, running back Saquon Barkley, Chubb, cornerback Denzel Ward, defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick and linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Roquon Smith. Of that group, one or more figure to fall towards the back end of the top 10 or out of the first 12 selections if there is a run on quarterbacks.
It would make sense for Ballard to talk with the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills, and the Arizona Cardinals – three teams that have expressed interest in drafting a quarterback.
Ballard insist he did his draft board is nearly set, with six days left until the draft.