The Colts have to make a tough roster decision following their Week 9 loss to the Vikings ahead of NFL Trade Deadline

The Indianapolis Colts made the controversial decision to bench Anthony Richardson ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. They believed that veteran Joe Flacco gave the team the best chance to win games.That idea blew up in their face as they had their worst offensive performance of the season and fell to […]

Destin Adams NFL News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Nov 3, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen reacts during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

The Indianapolis Colts made the controversial decision to bench Anthony Richardson ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. They believed that veteran Joe Flacco gave the team the best chance to win games.

That idea blew up in their face as they had their worst offensive performance of the season and fell to 4-5 on the season following their Week 9 loss to the Vikings. And now, a Colts roster that lacks a true direction has a big decision to make before the NFL Trade Deadline on Tuesday. 


The Colts need to choose to be buyers or sellers at the NFL Trade Deadline

Typically, the Colts decide to do what most teams do during the NFL Trade Deadline, which is do nothing. This season, though, I think that would be the worst decision they could make for their roster's present and future. 

The Colts elected to bench Richarson with the goal of making the playoffs playing a large factor. So if they fall short of that goal, that decision and their season as a whole will look like a major failure. It is sad when the primary goal for this season was supposed to be about the development of Richardson at QB, but the team moved that goalpost themselves.

Now, the Colts either need to double down on their playoff or bust mindset and be buyers at the deadline or look in the mirror and realize that their roster needs multiple upgrades before they can realistically be in "win-now" mode. If they elect to be buyers, a couple of positions that make sense for them to target would be TE, CB, and a backup RB. Or if they choose to backtrack on their statements and be sellers, they could look to move a few different veterans that don't seem to be a part of the team's future plans.