With the NFL’s best record, the Indianapolis Colts (7-1) could be in line to add a piece or two to put them into Super Bowl contention.
Indy’s offense has been humming and mostly healthy, so it’s unlikely general manager Chris Ballard would fiddle with the league’s top-scoring unit.
The Colts’ defense could use some tinkering. They added linebacker Germaine Pratt — who played for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo in Cincinnati — and several others in response to defensive backfield injuries. However, none is considered a difference-maker.
Ballard has made one mid-season trade in his nine-year tenure. In 2022, the Colts sent running back Nyheim Hines to Buffalo for running back Zack Moss.
Do the Colts want to take a swing at a premier player on a struggling team? Here are a few possibilities.
When is the NFL trade deadline?
4 p.m. ET Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.
Indianapolis Colts trade rumors, possibilities
ESPN: Three Bengals defensive players could be of interest to the Colts
DE Trey Hendrickson, LB Logan Wilson, CB Cam Taylor-Britt are all listed on ESPN’s 25 trade possibilities — and all are seen as fits for the Colts. This makes sense on a couple of levels. First, all played for Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo when he was Cincinnati’s DC. Also, the Bengals could hold a fire sale if they continue to struggle.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo, also lists Hendrickson and Wilson as trade candidates
Hendrickson: “Every team can use another pass rusher. And a brutal loss to the Jets on Sunday should let the Bengals know this isn’t their season. Joe Flacco has brought the Bengals to a level of respectability, but he’s realistically not going to lead the Bengals to the playoffs. Hendrickson has plenty of trade value after back-to-back 17-sack seasons. He also isn’t coming cheap, so it would be a big investment in a defensive end who will be 31 years old by the end of the season.”
Wilson: “On Sunday, Wilson played only 20 snaps on defense for the Bengals. He quickly went from being a productive off-ball linebacker (100 or more tackles in each of the past four seasons) to being pushed aside for a pair of rookies. That’s why Wilson made a trade request last week, and it makes sense for both sides. Another team could see Wilson as an upgrade at linebacker, and maybe the 3-5 Bengals will be selling. They have moved on from Wilson as a full-time player anyway.”
Jonathan Eig, Horseshoe Heroes: If not Hendrickson, then …
Jermaine Johnson, Jets: “Johnson is a tall, rangy edge who was on the verge of stardom in 2023. He recorded 7.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl in just his second season. Then, in the second week of 2024, he tore his Achilles and was out for the year.
“Though timelines are getting shorter with advances in rehab, an Achilles can easily set a player back more than a full year. Johnson has yet to show his 2023 form, but there is a good chance he could be rounding into peak shape late this season.”
Kingsley Enagbare, Packers: “He has been a steady performer, able to generate pass pressure as a rotational player. He does not knock Kwity Paye out of the starting spot (as Johnson might eventually do), but he provides a younger, ascending presence who could surpass what Tyquan Lewis and (now injured) Samson Ekubam have offered this season.”
Arden Key, Titans: “Key is a tall, lanky pass rusher, who looks at times like a slimmed down version of Laiatu Latu. He has always been effective generating pass pressure and though he is far from spectacular, lining him up opposite Latu would provide two bookend edges who will make passing lanes very tough for opposing quarterbacks.”
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NFL trade deadline: Indianapolis Colts trade rumors include Trey Hendrickson, other Bengals players
Reporting by Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
