“The Colts have received strong trade interest in Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner,” Pelissero wrote in his Week 7 insider notebook.
Pelissero also said Jonathan Taylor is not considered off-limits and that he expects the Colts to get calls about him before the deadline.
Why Nelson And Buckner Stand Out
Both players are in the final year of their contracts, which makes them more likely to move than Taylor, who signed a two-year, $44 million extension in training camp.
Nelson is 30, he was the sixth overall pick in 2018, and is an eight-time Pro Bowler who signed a four-year, $80 million extension in 2023 that was a record for a guard at the time.
He has played six games at left guard this season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent after it.
Nelson said last week he has “no questions” about his future and that he loves being in Indianapolis, adding that he’s focused on playing his best every day.
The Colts Haven’t Decided Yet
The Colts are 2-4, fired general manager Chris Ballard on October 19, and have Ed Dodds in as interim GM.
The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones reported the Colts want to see “what the landscape is like in a few weeks” before deciding whether to engage teams on Taylor, and others have described Indianapolis as not yet ready to sell.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote earlier this week that rival teams believe the Colts will be open for business, but that owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said she expects the team to compete, improve, and win games.
The next three games against Minnesota, Jacksonville, and Dallas could shape the decision, and Fowler said winning two of them might change the Colts’ trade plans.
