With the Colts turning to Joe Flacco, could GM Chris Ballard be a buyer at the NFL trade deadline?

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts won't be sellers at Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.

Head coach Shane Steichen essentially confirmed this when he swapped 2023 No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson in favor of 39-year-old Joe Flacco. To paraphrase team owner Jim Irsay, the Colts appear to have “all the chips” in their quest to end the season.

But are they really?

Indianapolis sits at 4-4 as it hands the keys to Flacco ahead of Sunday night's showdown at Minnesota, and the Colts still have plenty of time to clinch their first playoff spot since 2020. Flacco, the 2013 Super Bowl MVP, has already proven to be a key offseason addition after joining the team in March on a one-year deal. He threw seven touchdowns against one interception in relief of Richardson, which put pressure on the team to eventually demote the struggling Richardson and make Flacco the new starter.

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Flacco's steady play and impressive resume quickly earned him respect in the locker room. But for the Colts to significantly increase production from that same locker room, GM Chris Ballard would likely have to do what he has rarely done: make an in-season trade.

“As the trade deadline approaches, I’m going to let Ballard handle the whole thing,” Steichen said Friday. “But of course I want to put pressure on here, in the second half of the season, with nine (games) to go. Absolutely.”

Since being hired in 2017, Ballard has only made one trade during the season, when running back Nyheim Hines requested to be traded at the 2022 deadline. Hines' departure worked in Indianapolis' favor.

The Colts traded Hines for a conditional sixth-round pick and running back Zack Moss. Hines quickly made an impact in Buffalo, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns in the Bills' regular-season finale. But the following offseason, Hines suffered a torn ACL in a jet ski accident and hasn't played since.

It took longer for Moss to get started with the Colts, who finished 4-12-1 in 2022. But the following season, Moss emerged as one of the team's best offensive players, as he often filled in for 2021 first-team All-Pro Jonathan Taylor, who missed seven games due to injury. Moss became Indianapolis' leading rusher with a career-high 794 yards and five touchdowns.

Perhaps the Colts, once again lacking a consistent backup running back, could reconsider the trade? Tight end, cornerback and edge rusher could also be viewed as positions of need, whether due to lack of experience, lack of production or simply attrition due to injuries. Indianapolis tight ends Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory totaled 17 catches for 221 yards and two touchdowns. On the third day of training camp, defensive player Samson Ebukam suffered a torn left Achilles heel; Cornerback JuJu Brents suffered an MCL injury in the season opener; and starting defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis suffered an elbow injury in Week 4. All three remain on injured reserve.

“I think we evaluate everything every week after the games,” said Steichen about the current state of his team. “…It's the squad, it's everything we go through. We constantly evaluate everything we do.”

The most notable review of late has undoubtedly been Richardson's benching. The 22-year-old has posted the lowest completion percentage in the NFL this year when not pressured (48.1%), when pressured (38.9%), when not blitzed (50, 5%) and when he was flashed (26.5%). , per NFL Pro.

Steichen's decision to demote Richardson in favor of Flacco further clouds the future of the Colts. But it's fair to turn to Flacco, who completes 65.7% of his passes, if Indy seriously believes there can be a run.

“When you get to the playoffs, I think everyone has a chance once you get there,” Steichen said.

But the Colts have yet to get there.

As Indianapolis moves on to Flacco, Steichen said he and Ballard met with Richardson to discuss his replacement. Steichen added that he intends to keep the contents of their meeting secret, and the same goes for any potential trade deadline postponements.

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Neither Steichen nor Ballard will spill the beans, but given Ballard's conservative history in this area, there may be nothing to give away.

The Colts entered this season with much of the same roster as last season, and Ballard said in his annual preseason press conference that he believes this team could reach the postseason. When pressed about his team-building approach and the lack of success during his tenure – two playoff appearances, one playoff win and zero AFC South titles – Ballard doubled down.

“I still believe strongly in what we do, how we do it and how we get there. And that’s not going to waver,” Ballard said. “Either you believe something or you believe nothing. It's easy to waver, easy to sway, and give in to what the world demands of you. You either believe in something or you don't believe it. We believe that.

“If it gets me fired, then so be it.”

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Who stays and who leaves after the season ultimately rests on the shoulders of owner Jim Irsay. But right now, with Indianapolis half a game away from an AFC wild-card spot, any roster moves are falling at the feet of Steichen and Ballard. Steichen has already made his move by starting Flacco.

Now, with just a few days left before the trade deadline, it could be Ballard's turn to do something that will help get the Colts into the playoffs.

(Photo by Chris Ballard: Kelly Wilkinson / IndyStar / USA Today Network)