Colts GM Chris Ballard shares a prediction on something the team will do in the 2026 NFL Draft, and fans may not like it
Colts general manager Chris Ballard just let the world know one of the teams plans for the 2026 NFL Draft, and some will not like it.
The Indianapolis Colts weren’t as active as some would have hoped to see during the opening stages of NFL free agency, so now all eyes are on the 2026 NFL Draft. And with that attention, the pressure is on for the team to find talent that can upgrade their roster ahead of next season.
The Colts currently own seven picks in the draft, one in each round from two to six, and two in the seventh round. Seven is fewer picks than the Colts like to have during Chris Ballard’s time as the franchise’s general manager. But it seems he has no plan to end the draft, only to select seven players, and he made that clear on The Exhibit show hosted by Josina Anderson.
Colts general manager predicts that the team will trade back at some point in the 2026 NFL Draft
“I’m guessing we end up with more than seven (draft picks), we usually do. At some point I see us moving back.”
Chris Ballard on the EXhibit
Colts GM
The thought of trading back usually elicits mixed feelings among fans for several reasons. Teams do it because they want more picks at their disposal, and some fans can also get on board with that mindset. Others view trading back as a passive move and would rather see the team add more premium talent, which means keeping their picks as high as possible.
During Ballad’s time with the Colts, moving back has become something people have come to expect, and, in turn, they view the front office as operating too passively. And after a very passive approach to free agency, the thought of them following it up with this approach in the draft is bound to upset a portion of the fan base.
I do think the Colts deserve a little bit of wiggle room on this topic, though. After electing to trade away their first-round pick in 2026 and 2027 in exchange for Sauce Gardner, it should be expected that they try to move back and recoup some draft capital.
Now, does that mean the trade back would come at their first pick, currently slated for pick 47? Not necessarily. However, it is definitely the pick that can net them the biggest return. Right now, it’s their only selection in the top 50, though, so a trade back would likely take them out of that part of the draft altogether. With so many glaring holes on their roster, that would certainly be a very risky decision.
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