GMFB’s Peter Schrager speculates Colts as ‘team worth watching’ to trade up from #15 in NFL Draft

Could the Colts trade up to potentially land one of the ‘Big 3’ top prospects at wideout in this upcoming NFL Draft?

According to FoxSports and GMFB’s Peter Schrager on ‘The Pat McAfee Show,’ the Indianapolis Colts are an NFL team he’s potentially watching to trade up to the #9 spot (from their current #15th overall pick) in order to take one of the upcoming draft’s top wide receiver prospects—should any of the ‘Big 3’ slide just a few spots:

“If the Cardinals sit pretty at #4, Marvin Harrison Jr. I’m told is the pick, but they could move out,” Schrager said Thursday on ‘The Pat McAfee Show.’

“Now, the Colts are interesting. . . You guys know, a lot of players re-signed, players they like, players they feel confident with, Kenny Moore II and (Michael) Pittman Jr., and all of these guys.”

“But the Jaguars went balls to the wall in free agency. The Titans went absolutely bonkers in free agency, and the Texans went bonkers. You know Chris Ballard, do you think they’re sitting on their hands, (will) sit at #15, and take a defensive back and say, “Okay, we’re (going to go for it)…”

“I think there’s a chance the Colts make a couple of calls here and move up, especially if (Malik) Nabers, (Rome) Odunze, or (Marvin) Harrison Jr. falls out of that Top 5 or 6.”

“I love (Michael) Pittman Jr. and (Alec) Pierce. Imagine having Nabors, Pittman Jr., and Pierce. You’d probably (have to) move up a few spots. I look at the Chicago Bears at #9, I know Ryan Poles real well. They love Caleb Williams, but at that #9 spot, the Bears only have 4 draft picks right now. They don’t have a second round pick. That #9 spot could be really enticing if Nabors or Odunze falls down there. Teams might be looking to trade up. It’s a mock draft. I’m just putting it out there. Planting some seeds, but I think the Colts would be a team worth watching.”

Schrager raised some eyebrows earlier this week in his released 2024 NFL Mock Draft, when he had the Colts surprisingly trading up with the Chicago Bears to select LSU wideout Malik Nabors at #9 overall.

While general manager Chris Ballard tends to historically trade down—not up, to accumulate more picks, not less, the Colts could use another ‘dude’ at wideout. This year’s wide receiver draft class is particularly loaded atop with Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabors, and Washington’s Rome Odunze—although LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. is no slouch either a little later on, among others.

The truth is no one knows what the Colts will do for sure right now, likely not even Ballard himself—as things still remain plenty fluid leading up to late April’s draft day. However, they’ve certainly simulated some draft scenarios already leading up to draft weekend.

The question is whether Schrager is actually hearing some genuine chatter through league circles or his connections regarding the Colts ‘kicking the tires’ on trading up, or whether this is purely just speculation on his end given Indy’s clear need at wideout and a potential willing trade partner with Chicago, to jump just a few choice spots.