The Indianapolis Colts dropped a third straight game last week to the Minnesota Vikings, falling to 2-5 on the season, and - after the firing of general manager, Chris Ballard - were bound to make some big changes to the franchise.
Two big moves were made today, with veteran players traded out of the franchise in return for draft assets. The Colts first traded six-time Pro Bowl guard, Quenton Nelson, to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick.
Nelson has been regarded as one of the league's top guards since he entered the NFL as the #6 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He made the All-Pro Second Team the last two seasons, and in 2025 he ranked in the 91st percentile for pass-block win rate and 74th in run-block win rate.
The trade comes as a huge boost for the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks, as they currently rank in the bottom half of the league in both pass-block and run-block win rates, so improving their offensive line was a top need to get back to the Super Bowl.
As for the Colts, losing one of your best players always hurts, but the move makes sense given their current trajectory. Nelson's contract ends at the conclusion of this season, with the Colts facing the Pro Bowler walking in free agency, and receiving no compensation.
Just hours later, the Colts made another big move, trading away defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Buckner is in his 11th NFL season, having started the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers. His return to the Bay Area is a big win for San Francisco, with Buckner still one of the league's top pass rushers in 2025, with a 90th-percentile pass-rush win rate and an 88th-percentile pressure rate.
The Niners started the season well with a win over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, but dropped their first game last week to the Atlanta Falcons, still sitting atop the NFC West with a 6-1 record. With the 49ers already among the NFL's top defensive units, this move helps to keep them as one of the key Super Bowl favourites.
Like Nelson, Buckner's contract expires at the end of this season. The trade deadline is still two weeks away, so the Colts could have waited and tried to get a better deal, at the same time potentially losing him in free agency if a trade didn't eventuate, or a deal couldn't be made to keep him in Indianapolis.
For the Colts, the front office doesn't look finished in this space, as rumours suggest the franchise is still shopping their superstar running back, Jonathon Taylor, to the highest bidder.
The Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, and Minnesota Vikings have all shown interest in the three-time Pro Bowl running back. As the 2021 rushing leader and two-time touchdown leader, the Colts are reportedly asking for at least a second-round draft pick in return, possibly more.
With two weeks left until the NFL Trade Deadline, there's plenty still at stake.
