Colts Draw Strong Trade Interest in Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner Ahead of Nov. 10 Deadline

The 2-4 Indianapolis Colts are fielding strong trade inquiries for veteran guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, per @TomPelissero. With no player considered untouchable following the Ballard firing, rival contenders such as the Chicago Bears are evaluating potential deals before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. Indianapolis now faces a pivotal two-week window to decide whether to hold its lineup together or deal longtime starters for future draft capital.

The news

The Indianapolis Colts have received strong trade interest in veteran guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, per @TomPelissero. Operating with a 2-4 record, the club has made no player untouchable in trade talks ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline. Rival teams are actively pursuing both foundational starters in case the front office decides to sell before midseason roster transactions close.

These inquiries build on ongoing Colts trade talk after the Ballard firing as contenders target established pieces from the Indianapolis roster. While running back Jonathan Taylor remains under team control via a contract extension amid outside interest, Nelson and Buckner have become focal points for rival executives. Holding the 12th seed, Indianapolis must weigh immediate draft capital against retaining longtime foundational starters.

Prior context

Indianapolis enters this stretch on a two-game losing streak following a 26-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 18. That slide has left the 2-4 club holding the 12th seed as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches. Both Nelson and Buckner bring established resumes that continue to draw attention across the league.

Selected sixth overall out of Notre Dame in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Nelson has earned eight straight Pro Bowl nods. On the defensive interior, Buckner has recorded 4.0 sacks, a 93.3 PFN DT Impact grade, and 14.2 disruption EPA through six games in 2026. Their sustained production explains why contending teams are testing Indianapolis' willingness to deal core veterans.

Among prospective buyers in the NFC, the Chicago Bears hold the No. 5 seed on a two-game winning streak following a 30-24 win over the New England Patriots in Week 7. Chicago reached that mark after navigating an earlier absence by quarterback Caleb Williams. With defensive coordinator Dennis Allen leading the unit, the Bears have been connected to several defensive trade options across the league.

What it means

For Indianapolis, moving either veteran would shift the franchise toward accumulating future draft assets, though market conditions differ between the two linemen. An expiring contract and the guard market could cap the trade ceiling for Nelson despite his eight consecutive Pro Bowl selections. By contrast, Buckner's interior disruption through six games in 2026 positions him to command multiple draft picks if Indianapolis elects to sell.

For a buyer like the Bears, Buckner headlines a broader group of defensive targets evaluated ahead of Nov. 10. Alongside Buckner, defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, edge rusher Khalil Mack, and cornerback Riq Woolen have been floated as defensive trade options for Chicago. Weighing those options involves balancing projected pick compensation, player age, injury status, and contract control.

Acquiring the 35-year-old Mack from the winless Los Angeles Chargers (0-6) would reunite him with Chicago eight years after the club originally traded for him from the Las Vegas Raiders. Through six games in 2026, Mack has posted 3.0 sacks, 19 tackles, an 81.1 PFN EDGE Impact grade, and 13.1 disruption EPA. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Ojomo—currently listed as questionable on the injury ledger—has no sacks in 2026 after registering 38 tackles and 6.0 sacks across 17 games for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025. Woolen, who totaled 41 tackles and 1 interception in 16 games in 2025 before signing a one-year, $15 million contract with the Eagles this offseason, represents an option in the secondary.

What reporters are saying

Rival teams are actively pursuing both Nelson and Buckner, per @TomPelissero, as the 2-4 Colts have made no player untouchable in talks ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline. That reporting highlights how the Ballard firing has intensified inquiries from contenders seeking established starters from the Indianapolis roster. Even with Jonathan Taylor secured on a contract extension, outside clubs are closely monitoring whether the Colts open the door to major veteran moves, per @TomPelissero.

In the NFC, Buckner, Ojomo, Mack, and Woolen have been floated as defensive trade options for the Chicago Bears ahead of Nov. 10, per @Yahoo NFL. Projected trade compensation stands at a 2027 second-round pick and 2028 third-round pick for Buckner, a 2027 third-round pick for Ojomo, and a 2027 fifth-round pick for Mack, per @Yahoo NFL. Adding Ojomo would allow Chicago to pursue an extension ahead of 2027 free agency while giving Philadelphia a third-round pick a year ahead of the compensatory schedule, per @Yahoo NFL. FOX Chicago also noted Ojomo and Woolen as fits for Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

What to watch next

Week 7 results will shape whether Indianapolis commits to moving veterans or holds the lineup together over the next two weeks. Sitting at 2-4 in the 12th seed on a two-game losing streak, the Colts face a compressed evaluation window to gauge their trajectory before deciding on offers for Nelson and Buckner. NFL franchises have until the Nov. 10 trade deadline to complete midseason roster transactions.

Companion to our earlier report: Colts draw strong trade interest in Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, per Pelissero.