The Indianapolis Colts created immediate roster questions when they relieved general manager Chris Ballard of his duties on Oct. 19. The club said it would begin its search for a new general manager while continuing to pursue its goals for the 2026 season, but the move also puts interim decision-makers under pressure to determine which veterans fit the next version of the roster.
Locked On Colts co-host Zach Hicks said the Colts should entertain offers for veterans on expiring contracts, with Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner at the front of that discussion. Hicks argued that a contender should be willing to pay at least a third-round pick for Buckner, rather than Indianapolis accepting a lesser return simply to complete a deal before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
“You can’t take anything less than a third,” Hicks said, pointing to the compensatory-pick formula as part of the club’s leverage. His case was that a team acquiring Buckner as a rental could recoup similar draft value if Buckner later leaves in free agency, making a third-rounder a reasonable asking price for Indianapolis.
Locked On Colts co-host Jake Arthur named Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart alongside Buckner as the most logical veteran to move. Arthur described Stewart as a potential fit for a contender seeking a one-technique defensive tackle or a nose tackle, though he projected a lower return for Stewart than for Buckner.
The distinction matters for the Colts. A trade of Buckner or Stewart would bring draft capital into a front office transition, but it would also weaken a defensive front that still has to play out the season. Hicks and Arthur did not advocate moving young players or veterans under longer-term control without an offer that clearly beats the value Indianapolis could retain for a future general manager.
That leaves Indianapolis with a straightforward question in the coming weeks: Do they demand meaningful compensation for their veterans, or keep them rather than force a symbolic reset? Buckner’s price, in particular, may show how aggressively the Colts intend to reshape the roster before a new general manager takes over.
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