Evan Frank,Nat NewellIndianapolis Star
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Is Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard the best active GM in the NFL regarding trades? Steven Patton of Patton Analytics thinks so.
According to Patton, Ballard is the most successful general manager in terms of net value gained through trades since 2020.
One of the more memorable trades was when Ballard sent a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 first-round pick forCarson Wentz. A year later, Wentz was traded to the Washington Commanders for a package of draft picks.
Ballard, 55, has been in the NFL since 2001 when he was hired as a scout with the Chicago Bears. In 2012, he was promoted to the director of pro scouting in Chicago. From 2013-16, Ballard worked as the director of player personnel and then the director of football operations with the Kansas City Chiefs.
He was hired as general manager of the Colts in 2017. Indianapolis is 54-60-1in his seven seasons, a .474 winning percentage. His teams have made the playoffs twice, winning one game.
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Here is a ranking of every trade Ballard has made (through 2023, according to pro-football-refernence.com), does he deserve the No. 1 ranking?
Chris Ballard trades the Colts won
1. March 17, 2018: 2018 first-round pick (Sam Darnold) tothe Jets for a 2018 first-round pick (Quenton Nelson), two 2018 second-round picks (Braden Smith, Dallas Goedert) and a 2019 second-round pick (Rock Ya-Sin).
A big win for Ballard even if they should have held on to Dallas Goedert (see below). Nelson is a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro and Smith is entering his seventh season as a starter. Ya-Sin was a capable starting cornerback and flipped for Yannick Ngakoue. Darnold, of course, has fallen well short of his draft position.
2. April 24, 2020: 2020 second-round pick (Grant Delpit) and 2020 fifth-round pick (Nick Harris) to the Browns for 2020 second-round pick (Jonathan Taylor).
Delpit has been a three-year starter at safety for the Browns and Harris a reserve center since the deal, but Taylor led the NFL in rushing in 2021. Taylor's injuries knock the return down some but can't argue with this deal for the Colts.
3. April 29, 2022: 2022 second-round pick (Andrew Booth) and 2022 fourth-round pick (Zamir White) to the Vikings for a 2022 second-round pick (Alec Pierce), 2022 third-round pick (Bernhard Raimann) and 2022 sixth-round pick (Andrew Ogletree).
Booth has been a backup defensive back and White a backup – though productive – running back making this a clear win for the Colts, no matter what you think of Alec Pierce. Even if Pierce is only a 35-catch, 550-yard deep threat, getting a legit starting left tackle in Raimann is a great deal. Ogletree could make the team as a blocking tight end, as well.
4. March 9, 2022: Traded Carson Wentz, a 2022 second-round pick (Phidarian Mathis) and a 2022 seventh-round pick (Christian Holmes) to the Commanders for a 2022 second-round pick (Andrew Booth), 2022 third-round pick (Jelani Woods) and 2023 third-round pick (Josh Downs).
Trading FOR Carson Wentz has a prominent place below but give Ballard credit for getting this return on a player they had to trade. Mathis was a bust, making an argument for Holmes (30 games as a reserve defensive back) as the best part of the return for Washington. Downs had a promising and productive rookie season and Booth was part of the deal to bring in Alec Pierce and Bernard Raimann. Even if Woods doesn't pan out – and he might – Ballard did well in dealing Wentz.
5. March 16, 2020: Traded 13th overall pick (Tristan Wirfs) to the 49ers for DeForest Buckner.
Wirfs − who the 49ers dealt for Javon Kinlaw − has been a three-time Pro Bowler but Buckner, a two-time Pro Bowler, has been the centerpiece of the Colts' defense since this trade. This trade drops a bit since the Colts had to immediately sign Buckner to a big contract.
6. April 29, 2017: 2017 fourth-round pick (Joe Williams) to the 49ers for a 2017 fourth-round pick (Marlon Mack) and a 2017 fifth-round pick (Anthony Walker).
Big win for Ballard as Williams never played an NFL game while the Colts got nearly 2,500 rushing yards out of Mack and four years and 343 tackles at linebacker from Walker.
5. April 28, 2018: Traded Henry Anderson to the Jets for a 2018 seventh-round pick (Zaire Franklin).
Anderson had seven sacks in 2018 but has settled into a role as a journeyman defensive lineman. Franklin has made 346 tackles the last two seasons and emerged as one of the Colts' leaders. There are several trades where the Colts had to deal a player and got a 7th-round pick in return. This is why you make those deals.
6. September 2, 2017: Traded Phillip Dorsett to the Patriots for Jacoby Brissett.
While the Brissett years weren't a resounding success, he was a step up from Scott Tolzien and a capable fill-in for the impossible situation of Andrew Luck retiring in 2019. Brissett led the team to a 4-2 start before reality caught up. Dorsett was a solid role player, catching 73 passes for 881 yards and 8 touchdowns with New England.
7. November 1, 2022: Traded Nyheim Hines to the Bills for Zack Moss and a 2023 fifth-round pick (Will Mallory).
Colts fans often wanted Hines to have a bigger role in the offense, but his only impact on the Bills was as a returner. Moss was a very good replacement for Jonathan Taylor, and Mallory has shown promise as a pass-catching tight end.
8. April 25, 2019: Traded a 2019 first-round pick (Montez Sweat) to Washington for a 2019 second-round pick (Greedy Williams) and 2020 second-round pick (Michael Pittman).
Scoring this a win for the Colts because they re-signed Pittman while the Commanders traded Sweat but both sides have to be happy with the deal. Greedy Williams was, of course, subsequently dealt and you'll have to keep reading to find the results of that trade. (Hint: It didn't add a lot to the Colts.)
9. March 16, 2022: TradedRock Ya-Sin to the Raiders for Yannick Ngakoue.
Ya-Sin was a solid corner but Ngakoue had 9.5 sacks in his only season for the Colts.
10. April 27, 2018: 2018 third-round pick (Chad Thomas) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (Christian Sam) to the Browns for a 2018 second-round pick (Tyquan Lewis).
Thomas had four sacks in his second season but didn't play in the NFL again, while Sam never appeared in a game. Lewis has had his issues with injuries (missing 33 of 98 games) but has contributed 13.5 sacks and 95 tackles as a solid defensive lineman.
11. April 25, 2020: Traded Quincy Wilson to the Jets for a 2020 sixth-round pick (Isaiah Rodgers).
Rodgers, of course, was released after a gambling suspension, but the Colts got value from him on special teams and at corner. Wilson appeared in just four games after the trade.
12. April 27, 2019: 2019 fourth-round picks (Isaiah Johnson, John Cominsky) to the Raiders for a 2019 fourth-round pick (Khari Willis).
Willis was a good starting safety for three seasons before retiring to go into the ministry. Johnson never started a game but Cominsky has emerged as a starting defensive lineman for the Lions the last two seasons and could push deal this down the list.
13. September 1, 2018: Traded Darrell Daniels to the Seahawks for Marcus Johnson.
Daniels was a solid blocking tight end who appeared in nine games for the Seahawks and was back in the NFL last season. Marcus Johnson caught 37 passes for 634 yards and 3 touchdowns in two seasons with the Colts.
Neutral/Incomplete
(presented in chronological order)
August 31, 2019: Traded Evan Boehm and a 2020 seventh-round pick (Lachavious Simmons) to the Dolphins for a 2020 sixth-round pick (John Penisini).
Boehm wasn't going to make the roster and got six starts with the Dolphins in 2019, though he hasn't played in the NFL since. The Colts used the pick that became Penisini (12 starts as a rookie in 2019, out of the league by 2021) to land the Julian Blackmon pick, so we're calling this neutral.
April 24-25, 2020: 2020 third-round pick (Jonah Jackson) and 2020 sixth-round pick (John Penisini) to the Lions, 2020 sixth-round pick Michael Onwenu went to the Patriots and the Colts received a 2020 third-round pick (Julian Blackmon), 2020 fifth-round pick (Danny Pinter) and two 2020 sixth-round picks (Dezmon Patmon, Jordan Glasgow).
Combining the two trades since they're connected. Julian Blackmon has developed into a play-making safety the Colts desperately need with questions at the other spot. But they gave up two starting linemen in Jackson (one Pro Bowl) and Onwenu (56 starts in four years) so we'll drop this into the neutral category. Neither Patmon nor Glasgow made an impact with the Colts.
May 1, 2021: 2021 sixth-round pick (Landon Young) toSaints for 2021 sixth-round pick (Sam Ehlinger) and 2021 seventh-round pick (Mike Strachan).
Young has started seven games as a backup tackle for the Saints while Ehlinger remains a third-string quarterback for the Colts. Strachan made five catches for the Colts. Young could move this deal to the losses.
August 31, 2021: 2022 sixth-round (Jordan Jackson) to the Eagles for Matt Pryor and and a 2022 seventh-round pick (Christian Holmes).
Jackson never played in the NFL, but Pryor struggled when the Colts made him their starting left tackle. The seventh-round pick was dealt with Carson Wentz to Washington. Since that worked out quite well, we're putting this move here.
April 29, 2022: 2022 fifth-round pick (Kingsley Enagbare) and 2023 third-round pick (Drew Sanders) to the Broncos for 2022 third-round pick (Nick Cross).
Cross has been a disappointment so far while Enagbare and Sanders have each started a handful of games at linebacker. This deal is far from decided.
August 30, 2022: 2023 sixth-round pick (Josh Hayes) to the Buccaneers for Grant Stuard and a 2023 seventh-round pick (Jake Witt).
Hayes and Stuard are both special teams regulars while Witt missed last season with an injury. This is pretty much the definition of a neutral trade.
Chris Ballard trades the Colts lost
14. August 28, 2017: Thomas Hennessy to the Jets for Ronald Martin.
Hennessy has been the Jets long snapper since the deal while Martin appears in two games for the Colts. Can't ding Ballard too much for this one as the Colts haven't had issues at long snapper and you can't play two of them.
15. August 26, 2018: Traded Antonio Morrison to the Packers for Lenzy Pipkins.
Morrison started 8 games for Green Bay but has been out of the NFL since. Pipkins appeared in one game for the Colts so this a loss, but Morrison was a run-stuffing linebacker the team didn't need.
16. August 29, 2019: Traded Nate Hairston to the Jets for a conditional 2020 sixth-round pick that did not convey.
Hairston started six games in 2019 and has bounced around the NFL since. The Colts were going to cut Hairston so can't be too hard on Ballard for this one, either.
17. March 9, 2017: Dwayne Allen and a 2017 6th-round pick (Adam Bisnowaty) for a 2017 4th-round pick (Zach Banner).
Allen spent two seasons primarily as a blocking tight end of the Patriots and Bisnowaty appeared in a single game, but the Colts cut Banner before he appeared in a game for them.
18. April 27, 2019: Traded Hassan Ridgeway to the Eagles for a 2019 seventh-round pick (Javon Patterson).
The Colts didn't have a roster spot for Ridgeway after three seasons as a backup defensive lineman and dealt him for Patterson, who played in one game. Ridgeway has continued to bounce around, but he's started 14 games, including once for Houston last season.
19. April 28-29, 2023: 2023 second-round pick (Michael Mayer) to the Raiders, a 2023 second-round pick (Matthew Bergeron) to the Falcons and a 2023 fifth-round pick (Jaquelin Roy) to the Vikings for a 2023 second-round pick (JuJu Brents), 2023 fourth-round pick (Adetomiwa Adebawore), 2023 fifth-round pick (Daniel Scott) and 2023 sixth-round pick (Titus Leo).
Combining three trades since they were connected. With only one season of play, this deal could move up or down this list significantly, but right now, the Colts gave up a starting offensive lineman (Bergeron) and a promising tight end (Mayer) for an injury-prone though talented cornerback (Brents), an injured safety (Scott), an injured defensive lineman (Leo) and a promising defensive lineman (Adebawore).
20. April 28, 2018: 2018 fifth-round pick (Maurice Hurst) to the Raiders for a 2018 fifth-round pick (Daurice Fountain) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (Deon Cain).
Hurst had 7.5 sacks in his first two seasons with the Raiders and has bounced around since; Fountain and Cain combined for six catches with the Colts.
21. April 26, 2019: 2019 second-round pick (Greedy Williams) to the Browns for a 2019 second-round pick (Ben Banogu) and 2019 fifth-round pick (Marvell Tell).
No one's putting this one on their resume but Williams was a regular for two seasons even if he is out of the league now. Banogu is one of Ballard's worst draft picks with 0 starts, 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks in four seasons. Tell was a solid reserve defensive back as a rookie but it was his only NFL season.
22. March 21, 2022: 2022 third-round pick (DeAngelo Malone) to the Falcons for Matt Ryan.
Ryan had a terrible season behind a porous offensive line, ending his career in Indianapolis. Malone has been a reserve defensive end for the Falcons. This is a tough one to rank. Ryan was far and away the best option in the 2022 offseason after they dealt Wentz but it contributed to a disastrous season.
23. March 14, 2023: Traded Stephon Gilmore to the Cowboys for a 2023 fifth-round pick (Evan Hull).
This is a loss as Gilmore was a quality corner but after a poor season by the Colts, the veteran wanted out. Ballard did the right thing in dealing him to the Cowboys.
24. April 27, 2018: 2018 second-round pick (Dallas Goedert) to the Eagles for a 2018 second-round pick (Kemoko Turay) and a 2018 fifth-round pick (Jordan Wilkins).
Goedert has been an excellent tight end since he was drafted with 307 catches for 3,589 yards as 22 touchdowns in six seasons. Turay was showing flashes of what he could be in 2021 when a horrific ankle injury effectively ended his career. Wilkins was a solid backup running back for three-plus seasons (208 carries, 1,009 yards, 4 touchdowns).
25. March 17, 2021: Traded 2021 third-round pick (Chauncey Golston) and a 2022 first-round pick (Jahan Dotson) to the Eagles for Carson Wentz.
If you're reading this story you likely know how this turned out. Wentz and the Colts collapsed at the end of the 2021 season and he was traded again (for a surprisingly good return). Golston was a bust and Dotson hasn't been great (84 catches, 1,041 yards, 11 touchdowns), but this trade changed the course of the Colts.
