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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The Indianapolis Colts made the bold move Tuesday to send eight-time Pro Bowl guard and one of the faces of the franchise, Quenton Nelson, to the defending champion Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Nelson has been one of the best offensive linemen in the league for the last decade, but Indianapolis is clearly ready for a reset.
The Colts are 2-5, have already fired general manager Chris Ballard, and have now lost multiple pillar players, including Nelson and, hours later, star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Buckner was dealt to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Yet, surprisingly, it's not the Seahawks or the 49ers who may have emerged the winners on Tuesday, but rather the New York Jets. ESPN's Field Yates pointed out that the Colts' trades are likely to be just the first of several moves, and the Jets own Indianapolis' 2027 first-round pick. If the Colts keep getting rid of key players and their record plummets, the Jets are the ones who stand to benefit the most.
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New York made a massive decision last November, trading star cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts in exchange for their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, along with wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. At the time, it was seen as an all-in move for the Colts, who looked prime for a deep playoff run, and two first-round picks for a premier cornerback was considered a reasonable price. Then the Colts fell apart late last season and still haven't recovered.
New York later traded defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to Dallas, receiving a 2026 second-round pick, defensive tackle Mazi Smith, and a 2027 first-round pick. As things stand right now, the Jets have three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft: their own, Indianapolis and the Cowboys'. That's potentially three top-10 picks, depending on how each team finishes this season.
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At 2-5, the Jets are already well on their way. With Geno Smith as their quarterback, they still need to find an option under center for the future, and the allocation of picks allows them to do that. They have some talented players on defense, including Demario Davis, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and No. 2 overall pick David Bailey. They also still have Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall on offense. If they can figure out the quarterback situation, things could change quickly in New York.
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