Why the Colts did not make moves at the NFL trade deadline

The Indianapolis Colts remained silent during the trade deadline for a specific reason.

The Indianapolis Colts, as predicted, made no deals at the NFL’s trade deadline on Tuesday.

There had been whispers that the Colts were interested in a few players, as well as that other Colts might be leaving. However, the Colts ultimately decided to stick with their present roster.

Some fans have already called for general manager Chris Ballard’s resignation after he chose not to make any moves. You can’t blame fans for wanting changes made to improve their favorite club. This is what makes them fans.

However, fans must realize the Colts’ current predicament. When you take the passion out of it, you can see why the Colts were not active at the deadline.

For starters, consider the Colts’ current situation. Indy is 3-5, last place in the AFC South, and on a three-game losing run. They will also be without starting quarterback Anthony Richardson for the remainder of the season, as the youngster underwent season-ending surgery on a damaged AC joint in his throwing shoulder last week.

While the season looked promising while Richardson was available, the Colts have fallen back to earth. At this moment, this squad is more likely to finish outside of the playoff picture than to compete for a playoff position.

Now, practically all of the other clubs that have made moves to acquire players in recent days are likely to be in the postseason hunt or vying for the Super Bowl. Here is a list of the significant deals done prior to the deadline.

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Outside of the Bears and Vikings, all of the clubs who added players are at or near the top of their respective divisions. The moves were intended to help their respective teams make a push this season. They are in win-now mode.

The Colts, on the other hand, are not looking to win now. This team is currently undergoing a soft rebuild. Even if Richardson remained healthy, the Colts would have struggled to make a significant impact in a deep AFC.

Many of the players mentioned above are also in the final year of their contracts, thus there is no guarantee they will remain with that team indefinitely. Ballard will not trade draft capital for one-year rentals if the team is not prepared to contend.

But couldn’t the Colts sign these players to long-term contracts? There is always the possibility, but the Colts already have key players in the final year of their contracts who they want to maintain. Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart, and Kenny Moore II are just three of the players in the final year of their contracts who Indy will most certainly want to sign to extensions. When all three are considered, the money moves swiftly.

The Colts’ game plan never included the 2023 season. Ballard and the Colts’ management team made it obvious how they approached the 2023 offseason. With Richardson and head coach Shane Steichen, the Colts have utilized this season to test their young players to see who they will need in the future. The organization has been preparing for 2024, 2025, and beyond.
So, if you haven’t already, it’s time to reset your expectations as a Colts fan. Use the remainder of the 2023 season to observe the young players’ development and improvement. Be thrilled about the rising stars already on our roster. Richardson, Josh Downs, Bernhard Raimann, Drew Ogletree, Kwity Paye, and JuJu Brents are just a handful of the players who have shown great potential this season.

Most importantly, hope for more competitive games along the way. Better days are ahead for this club, and the Colts may make a move down the road that propels them to the top. It just won’t happen this year.