The Chris Ballard era as the Indianapolis Colts general manager came to an end on Monday. A 26-20 home loss against the previously 0-5 Tennessee Titans in Week 6 was enough for Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon to pull the plug on Ballard six games into his 10th season on the job. Under Ballard, Indianapolis reached the playoffs twice (2018 and 2020), going 1-2 in those two trips.
The Colts' 72-82-1 regular season record under his management ranked 17th in the league during Ballard's tenure. Indianapolis's five missed playoffs in a row (since 2021) is the Colts' longest such streak since 1988 to 1994, and the team never won an AFC South title under Ballard. Now, the franchise is left to pick up the pieces with a 2027 rebuild on the horizon.
The good news is that the 2027 NFL Draft is widely regarded as one of the most talented in years. The bad news is that the Colts don't have a first-round pick thanks to trading their 2026 and 2027 first-round draft choices, as well as wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, to the New York Jets in exchange for All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner last season. However, there are multiple ways for Indianapolis to recoup draft capital through veterans on tradable deals.
Let's take a look at what a potential fire sale of three of the Colts' top players could look like. Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner all but demanded a trade after the team's Week 6 loss against the Tennessee Titans. "I'm sick and tired of the same song and dance every year," Buckner told reporters postgame on Sunday.
At 32 years old, Buckner still has plenty of gas in the tank. His 4.0 sacks through six weeks are tied for the 10th most in the NFL, while his 19 quarterback pressures rank as the seventh most among defensive tackles in 2026. The Colts would be unwise not to make him available, as he is set to become a free agent in the 2027 offseason.
What could his market look like? For a player at his age and contract status, this could be one of his last prime seasons, but for legitimate contenders, that could be worth a third-or fourth-round pick. Teams who could be interested could include the Green Bay Packers (4-2), the San Francisco 49ers (5-0) and the Minnesota Vikings (5-0).
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