The Chris Ballard era in Indianapolis just slammed shut on Monday, and it came after a brutal 26-20 home loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans in Week 6. Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon pulled the plug on Ballard six games into his 10th season as general manager. This team is now left to pick up the pieces, staring down a full-blown 2027 rebuild.
Ballard’s Rocky Road Ends in Indy
Let’s be real, this wasn’t exactly a dynasty. Under Ballard’s leadership, the Colts scraped into the playoffs only twice, back in 2018 and 2020, and walked away with a measly 1-2 record from those trips. His regular season record of 72-82-1 ranked 17th in the league during his tenure. The real kick in the teeth? This franchise has missed the playoffs five times in a row since 2021, a drought they haven’t seen since the ’80s and ’90s. And an AFC South title? Never happened on his watch. Now, with the 2027 NFL Draft widely hyped as one of the most talented in years, the Colts are in an even worse spot: they don’t have a first-round pick. Yeah, you read that right. They shipped their 2026 and 2027 first-rounders, plus wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, to the New York Jets last season for All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner. That move is looking real rough right about now.
Buckner Demands Out as Fire Sale Looms
So, how do you recoup draft capital when you’ve traded away your future? Simple: you start moving your biggest veterans. And it looks like three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is already halfway out the door. After that disastrous Week 6 loss, Buckner didn’t mince words, telling reporters, “I’m sick and tired of the same song and dance every year.” At 32, Buckner is still absolutely balling. He’s got 4.0 sacks through six weeks, tied for 10th most in the NFL, and his 19 quarterback pressures rank seventh among defensive tackles this year. He’s set to hit free agency in the 2027 offseason, so if the Colts don’t trade him, they risk losing him for nothing. For a legitimate contender, Buckner could easily fetch a third or fourth-round pick. Teams like the Green Bay Packers, who just lost Javon Hargrave to a torn Achilles, and the Minnesota Vikings, both at 4-2 and 5-0 respectively, could be sniffing around. But don’t sleep on the 5-0 San Francisco 49ers. Buckner played his first four seasons there, even making it to Super Bowl LIV before being traded to the Colts for a first-round pick back in 2020. That’s a reunion that makes way too much sense.
The Colts are in full crisis mode. With a deep 2027 draft class on the horizon, but no first-round pick in their pocket, they’re staring down a desperate scramble to rebuild. Getting maximum value for veterans like Buckner is their only play now if they want to get back into that draft early and avoid getting left behind.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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