If the Indianapolis Colts are going to make a move at the trade deadline, which positions should be on GM Chris Ballard’s radar?
A few recent reports suggest that the Colts are a team to watch at the trade deadline, specifically on the defensive side of the ball.
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At 6-1 on the season, the Colts hold the best record in the NFL and are the top seed in the AFC playoff race.
This team is rolling, but an outside addition, particularly on defense, could provide that unit with added consistency heading into the second half of the season.
Cornerback
The depth of this position group continues to be tested with injuries. Playing outside cornerback in the Colts’ most recent game was Mekhi Blackmon, and a combination of Johnathan Edwards, an undrafted rookie, and Cameron Mitchell, who was elevated from the practice squad.
The Colts’ pass defense has come up with timely stops and key takeaways, but more consistency is needed.
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Defensive end
The Colts could use more pass rush juice opposite of Laiatu Latu. Overall, the Colts’ pressure numbers are fine, but in part, that’s a product of their opponents being pass-heavy as they try to catch up to the Indianapolis offense. Perhaps a more accurate reflection is that the Colts rank 28th in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric.
Linebacker and Safety
I’ll lump these two together because neither is a pressing need. If the Colts are going to take a swing at the trade deadline, it should be at one of the positions mentioned above.
Linebacker was a need for much of the season, but the recent addition of Germaine Pratt has provided stability at the WILL linebacker position. The safety spot, meanwhile, is manned by Cam Bynum and Nick Cross, but perhaps Ballard would like to bolster the depth at either position.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL trade deadline: 3 positions for Colts to address