Colts trade guard Quenton Nelson to Seahawks for 2027 third- and 2028 fifth-round picks

The Indianapolis Colts traded All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke to the Associated Press anonymously because neither team had announced it. Nelson, 30, is an eight-time Pro Bowler and the No. 6 overall pick in 2018, and he was due to become a free agent in March. The Colts are 2-5, have lost three straight and 12 of their last 14, and fired general manager Chris Ballard last week after a home loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans. Assistant general manager Ed Dodds has replaced Ballard for now. Running back Jonathan Taylor and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner could be traded next. Indianapolis visits Jacksonville (4-2) on Sunday, and Seattle (4-3) hosts Chicago (5-2) on Monday night.

The left-leaning Guardian US runs the Associated Press report: it relies on the anonymous source, gives Nelson's career history (including All-Pro seasons from 2018 to 2020 alongside Darius Leonard) and lists the Colts' record, Ballard's firing and upcoming games, with no outlook beyond the trade. Right-leaning outlets add forward-looking angles. The New York Post leads with the Jets, who own Indianapolis's 2027 first-round pick (now No. 7) from the Sauce Gardner trade, and it calls the move the start of a fire sale. The Daily Mail also uses fire-sale language, credits owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon with firing Ballard, and notes the Seahawks' 20-3 win over the Chiefs. Both sides report the same picks and Ballard's firing. The alternative-side Yahoo Sports excerpt instead concerns a Buckner trade involving the 49ers, while ESPN's excerpt is a one-line summary.