Colts Make Major Trade As Rebuild Is Signaled

The Indianapolis Colts have executed a seismic trade, sending eight-time Pro Bowl left guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks.

First reported by Tom Pelissero of Netflix and The Ringer, the Colts get a 2027 third-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. It also clears $9.7 million off the Colts' salary cap, according to Spotrac.

Nelson, 30, is the most decorated offensive lineman in Colts franchise history, after being selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

The left guard hasn't missed a game since 2021, the only season he's ever missed a start, and has been a Pro Bowler every year of his career. He's also been an All-Pro in all but two seasons, including last year's Second-Team nod.

Nelson, in the final year of a four-year, $80 million deal he signed at the start of the 2022 season, now has the chance to join a contender and experience postseason success. The Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champions, while the Colts made the playoffs only twice during Nelson's tenure: 2018 and 2020.

This season, Nelson has earned an overall offensive grade of 85.7, according to Pro Football Focus, which ranks third among all NFL guards. His 82.3 in run blocking is seventh, and 81.9 in pass protection is third. He's also been penalized just once.

The Colts have run 37 times behind Nelson in 2026, resulting in 182 yards (4.9 avg.) and one touchdown, including 10 first downs and five explosive runs.

With Nelson now gone, rookie fourth-round pick Jalen Farmer is expected to start at left guard, while Matt Goncalves maintains his role at right guard.

Farmer has played just three snaps on offense so far this year, coming in briefly for Nelson after an injury, but has otherwise logged 35 snaps on special teams with the field goal/extra point unit.

The Colts are now projected to have the following picks in the 2027 and 2028 drafts:

The Colts do not have a 2027 first-round pick as a result of trading for former New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner last season. The Colts traded their original 2027 sixth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills this summer for center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and a seventh-round pick.