Colts made ‘big offers’ to move up in NFL Draft, couldn’t find trade partner

INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts tried to trade up into the top of the first round of the NFL Draft.

Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard has never traded up in the first round before, but there were persistent rumors leading up to the draft that the Colts wanted to move up in this draft.

Apparently the speculation was right. Ballard acknowledged shortly after midnight that Indianapolis tried to get other teams to move picks in the run of 14 offensive players that came off the board on Thursday night.

“We had some serious, serious discussions,” Ballard said. “With big offers, by the way.”

Indianapolis ended up staying at No. 15 and taking UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu, the first defensive player off the board after an unprecedented run of offensive players and a player the Colts believed was the best defensive player in the draft.

Were the Colts trying to move up for one of those offensive stars?

“Well, we were going up for a good player,” Ballard said. “I told you I thought we took the best defensive player. You can kind of put that together.”

Ultimately, Indianapolis wasn’t able to complete a trade because teams weren’t willing to move all the way back to the middle of the first round.

Especially with quarterbacks, offensive tackles and wide receivers flying off the board.

Ballard understands the position. When the Colts initially held the No. 3 pick in 2018, Indianapolis was willing to trade down with the Jets because New York held the No. 6 pick, allowing the Colts to still pick a premium player in Quenton Nelson.

From the sounds of it, a move down to No. 15 seemed like it would cost too much.

“We made a push,” Ballard said. “You’ve got to get two to tango. Nobody was moving. There were some good players up at the top of the draft. (The teams) sitting there, you ask yourself, is it worth it moving back to 15 and missing out on (those guys).”