INDIANAPOLIS – Chris Ballard loves a draft day trade.
In fact, the Indianapolis Colts’ general manager made three such moves during the 2024 NFL Draft, trading down before getting wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, trading up to grab offensive lineman Matt Goncalves and trading down in the fifth round for picks the team used on cornerbacks Jaylin Simpson and Micah Abraham.
Ballard also said the team tried to trade up in the first round, presumably to acquire highly sought offensive talent, but the Colts found no takers during the April draft.
It’s that background that makes a tidbit from a documentary about the NFL Draft so intriguing. Ballard, who loves “them picks,” had the chance to acquire an additional selection on draft night, thanks to an offer from the Los Angeles Rams.
We know this because of a new documentary on the Roku Channel, NFL Draft: The Pick Is In, which follows the Rams, Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders.
The Rams coveted Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II and tried to move up from 19th to 15th; they offered the Colts the 19th (first round), 99th (third round) and 154th (fifth round) picks in exchange for the 15th (first round) and 191st (sixth round) picks.
It was essentially a swap of first-round picks with the Colts surrendering a sixth rounder in exchange for selections in the third and fifth rounds.
The Colts didn’t budge—which tells you how highly the team rated its first-round pick, Laiatu Latu. The first 14 picks of the draft were offensive players, which means the Colts had their chance to pick who they regarded as their top defensive player in the draft.
With the entire board of defensive players available, the Colts stayed put—declining to make a trade and pick up additional draft capital.
The Rams also talked to the Seattle Seahawks, who held the No. 16 pick, but couldn’t swing a deal. The Seahawks ended up selecting Murphy. When the Rams were on the clock at 19 a few picks later, they selected Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse.
NFL Draft: The Pick Is In premiered Friday on the Roku Channel. The free-to-watch documentary from NFL Films and Skydance Sports runs about 90 minutes in length. You’ll find the Colts tidbit around 49 minutes in.
Last year’s version of the documentary featured the Colts and their decision to select quarterback Anthony Richardson in the first round. It premiered in August 2023.