The Colts have reportedly been active about possibly trading up—depending on if you believe it nationally.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano (subscription), the Indianapolis Colts are among the teams that he’s heard have been active about the possibility of moving up in the NFL Draft—with a cornerback, likely either Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell or Alabama’s Terrion Arnold, as the projected target:
“The people I talk to think we’re likely to see more trades in the second half of the first round than in the first half,” Graziano writes. “The Colts (No. 15), Jaguars (No. 17), Rams (No. 19) and Eagles (No. 22) are all teams I’ve heard have been making calls about potentially moving up.”
“For the Colts and Jaguars, the target would most likely be a cornerback, which might be interesting to a team like Chicago at No. 9 or Denver at No. 12. Having two division rivals battling it out to trade up for the same guy (maybe Alabama’s Terrion Arnold?) could drive up the price.”
This isn’t the first time recently that the Colts have been speculated as a trade suitor interested in moving up from the 15th overall pick, as NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah also reported something similar on Tuesday—only for Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
Despite historically being known for trading more down, than up, in order to accumulate more draft picks, Colts general manager Chris Ballard did indicate that he’d be willing to trade up for the right player this year:
“When we see one that’s in striking distance that we think we can go get, we’ll do it,” Ballard said recently at his pre-draft press conference via NFL.com. “But it’s got to work out. And then you’ve got to have too, you’ve got to have somebody that wants to make the trade.”
Whether that cornerback is ultimately Mitchell, Arnold, or perhaps even a top wide receiver prospect, remains to be seen, but the Colts could be active early on come draft day.
The Indy defense has a clear need at starting cornerback right now. While both Jaylin Jones and Dallis Flowers remain starting candidates (the latter who’s coming off a season-ending torn Achilles injury), the Colts lack a clear long-term starter opposite outside JuJu Brents.
However, Ballard and his scouting department have normally been tight-lipped about national leaks, but perhaps this is coming from the teams the Colts are trying to trade with.
