Could the Colts trade down in the first round to acquire additional draft capital throughout draft weekend?
According to PFF, the Indianapolis Colts are among a trio of teams that should trade down ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft:
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
The Colts aren’t desperate for picks, holding their original seven draft selections — no more, no less. Their roster is also set in a way that could provide general manager Chris Ballard some flexibility to acquire extra selections. In six of Ballard’s eight drafts as a general manager, he has made more than one selection in the second, third or fourth round. That seems to be his sweet spot when it comes to roster building, helping him acquire players such as tackle Bernhard Raimann (career-high 85.1 PFF overall grade), running back Jonathan Taylor (87.1) and tackle Braden Smith (83.3) — all of whom were one of multiple picks in those rounds.
The Colts have a major need at tight end, furthered by the secondary additions of Cam Bynum and Charvarius Ward in free agency. They likely no longer feel as desperate to get a starting-caliber secondary player in the first round. The same can be said for the defensive and offensive lines.
The easy priority players for Indianapolis at No. 14 are tight ends Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland and linebackers Jihaad Campbell and Jalon Walker. There is a chance only one of those four will be available when the Colts come on the clock, so perhaps they will feel their best draft strategy is to secure more picks in Rounds 2-4, as they have done many times in the past, as this class is deeper than it is top-heavy.
It’s hard to necessarily disagree, especially if prized Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is unavailable with the Colts’ 14th overall pick near midway though the first round.
Unfortunately for the Colts, there may be other NFL teams selecting around them, who have a similar idea, but without much of a seller’s market to properly execute such maneuvers.
While this draft is said to lack an abundance of elite talent atop, there is a wealth of solid starting caliber prospects throughout the first round—meaning potential trade suitors may be less inclined to trade up, and rather may just stay put at their current selection spots.
If the Colts can pull it off, by all means. After all, longtime general manager Chris Ballard admittedly ‘loves ‘dem picks.’ However, I’m thinking much like last year, the Colts will ultimately be sticking to their pick #14 when their clock starts come draft weekend.