The first round of the NFL Draft can be a make-or-break night for general managers across the league, and the opening night of the 2019 NFL Draft was especially busy, with a total of six draft-day trades taking place.
Near the end of the opening round, the Indianapolis Colts agreed to a deal with the Redskins that allowed Washington to move up and land Montez Sweat. The Colts received the 46th overall pick and a second-rounder in 2020.
Redskins GM Bruce Allen called the Colts just before they were put on the clock, leaving them with 10 minutes to decide whether to select a player or trade the pick. While Colts GM Chris Ballard was discussing the move with his team, he receive another call from Cleveland’s John Dorsey. Ballard picked up the phone, said “I’m working,” and hung up in the span of a few seconds.
In a fascinating video released by the Colts giving fans an inside look at the team’s draft room, Ballard explained that Dorsey, an old friend from their days with the Chiefs, will regularly call the Colts on draft day as soon as they are put on the clock. According to Ballard, Dorsey is just trying to mess with him.
The Colts ended up trading Washington’s second-round pick on Day 2, and through multiple deals, Ballard turned the Colts’ initial first-round pick into linebacker Ben Banogu, safety Marvin Tell III and a 2020 second.
