Colts players who could be traded during the 2026 NFL Draft: Another player joins Anthony Richardson and Kenny Moore II
The Indianapolis Colts have 3 players who seem like possible trade candidates during the 2026 NFL Draft. Another player joins the list with the two obvious choices of Anthony Richardson and Kenny Moore II.
The Indianapolis Colts don’t own a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they can still leave a major mark on draft weekend. The team already has two players who have asked for trades and could very well be traded during the draft. Those being quarterback Anthony Richardson and corner Kenny Moore II.
If either of those players were traded during draft weekend, no one would bat an eye. In fact, some may be shocked to see either player with the team by the time the draft ends.
So let’s discuss both players and why it has come to this for Richardson and Moore. But also, another player that the team could look to move during the draft.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson’s trade stock could rise during the NFL Draft
It’s no secret that the Colts and Richardson are looking to separate. The team granted Richardson’s trade request during the scouting combine. But no deal has come together at this time.
Teams’ motivation to get a deal done typically increases during the draft, and teams that miss out on Ty Simpson could turn to Richardson. They could give him essentially a one-year tryout for a lower draft pick than they would have used on Simpson. I think a fifth-round pick is around what the Colts would get in return. That just so happens to be in the range of the strength of this draft, according to general manager Chris Ballard.
The Colts want to move Richardson, but I don’t think they feel they have to. So I don’t expect they would take a seventh-rounder just to do it, for example.
Kenny Moore II is the most likely player to be traded by the Colts during the draft
The most likely player the Colts will move is Moore. This is because of everything he has done for this franchise and city during his nine years with the team. Unlike Richardson, the Colts seem to feel the need to honor Moore’s request no matter what.
Ballard kind of hinted at the possibility of releasing Moore if a trade doesn’t comdoesn’ther. Would they actually do that? I’m not surI’mbut I do think that shows you they plan to do right by Moore.
I think a team will want a slot corner enough to make a trade happen. But I do expect they will let Moore choose his landing spot to an extent. When that happens, it usually lowers the return a team nets from trading away that player.
Jaylon Jones is a sleeper trade candidate for the Colts
Last up is corner Jaylon Jones, who, unlike the other two, hasn’t requested trade. The Colts drafted Jones in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He went on to not only make the roster but also start 10 games as a rookie.
During his second year, he started all 17 of the team’s games and seemed poised for a bright future in Indy. Things changed ahead of his third year, though. The team made a significant scheme change by firing Gus Bradley and bringing on Lou Anarumo.
Anarumo’s defense values different traits at the corner than Bradley’s did. That paired with injuries led to Jones starting only two of the 10 games he appeared in. It was pretty clear right away that Anarumo didn’t view Jones as a good fit for his scheme. In training camp and during the season, rookie Justin Walley, Mehki Blackmon, and even undrafted rookie Jonathan Edwards appeared to be in better favor with Anarumo.
A trade could make sense for both sides now. The Colts can land an extra pick in this draft, and Jones can find a better fit where he can continue to grow as a player.
