As the NFL trade deadline quickly approaches, the Indianapolis Colts will be preparing to make a run in the second half of the season for one of the top spots in the AFC playoff race.
Before that, though, teams around the league have until Oct. 29 at 4:00 p.m. ET to finalize any deals they want to make before the deadline. The Colts always have their lines in the water—as general manager Chris Ballard says—even if it is unlikely they make a move.
Here are four players the Colts might consider moving before the trade deadline:
CB Quincy Wilson
In his third season, the embattled Wilson has yet to prove he belongs in the Colts defense as a starter. Despite being a second-round pick in 2017, the Florida product hasn’t been able to make a starting-caliber impact with consistency—even with the flashes he showed in Year 2.
Wilson is still extremely young (23 years old), which is why they are willing to be patient with him. But they also brought in a duo of young cornerbacks via the draft in Rock Ya-Sin and Marvell Tell III. With Kenny Moore entrenched as a starter, Wilson’s playing time hasn’t been that of an impact player.
He’s played on just 28.5% of snaps this season and while the Colts value his upside and versatility, it could be time to move on from the former second-round pick if an offer is enticing enough.
DT Margus Hunt
The veteran defensive lineman had a strong 2018 campaign that helped him earn a three-year extension this offseason, but he’s already being phased out of his starting role.
Playing on 40.1% of snaps this season, Hunt hasn’t had the same type of impact he did in 2018. He’s shown some flashes of disrupting the backfield, but he has mostly been taken out of plays with consistency. The Colts have also recently opted to go with third-year nose tackle Grover Stewart at the one-technique, which is Hunt’s typical position. Over the last three games, Hunt hasn’t seen the field for more than 29.7% of snaps.
The Estonian native has been a solid veteran presence in the defensive line room but if Ballard can flip him for a pick to a team that needs depth, it’s a move worth considering.
OT Le’Raven Clark
While some of these trade candidates hold some kind of weight, this one might be a reach. For starters, Clark is currently the only one to back up left tackle Anthony Castonzo and even though he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract, it doesn’t appear the Colts are going to re-sign him.
It also remains to be seen if any team would have interest in Clark—at least enough to trade for him. What the former third-round pick has put on tape isn’t exactly something to write home about. But he’s still young enough (26 years old) for a team to possibly inquire about him if they are in desperate need of depth.
The Colts have their starting offensive line intact and Clark has some value being the backup left tackle, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Ballard to get something for him before he hits free agency (if they can).
WR Chester Rogers
The Colts have been in need of wide receiver help for a handful of seasons now, and their recent influx of depth pieces could allow them to move Rogers if given the chance. T.Y. Hilton leads the group, and Parris Campbell is viewed as a core piece of the future. Devin Funchess is expected back for the second half while Zach Pascal has emerged as a wonderful depth piece. The Colts are also privy on the upside of Deon Cain—even if he’s disappointed to start the season.
The Colts could certainly hold onto Rogers given his knowledge of the offense and ability as a return man, but they also have a few intriguing depth pieces that could use some playing time to further their development along.
Rogers has limited upside as he’s shown over the past four seasons and while he holds a crucial role on special teams, he could be a trade candidate to monitor over the next few weeks.
