Stampede Blue
With the Colts freeing up 2025 cap space via restructuring nickel Cornerback Kenny Moore II’s contract and standing at a 5-1 record, they seem poised to make a move before the NFL trade deadline. Who could the Colts pursue as Ballard tries to add to a roster that looks poised to enter the playoffs for the first time since 2020?
Yes, yes I know dear reader. We’ve been down this road before. You don’t want to get your hopes up.
And yet, the siren’s call beacons. Trey Hendrickson is still on an expiring contract. The Bengals season has been derailed by Joe Burrow’s Week 2 injury, losing 4 straight games since as their offense lurches to a halt without their franchise passer. The upcoming schedule offers little respite, as the Bengals face the 4-1 Steelers, the 0-6 Jets, and the 3-2 Bears. Outside of the Jets and perhaps the Bears, it’s hard to see the Bengals without Burrow adding much to the win column before the trade deadline passes them by. The schedule gets even tougher after the deadline, which makes this potential trade seem likelier if the Bengals don’t right the ship quickly.
Coincidentally (or perhaps not), the Colts restructure of Kenny Moore II’s contract puts them only 200k short of enough cap space to take on Trey Hendrickson’s prorated contract at the trade deadline. The Colts could negotiate for the Bengals to absorb more of Hendrickson’s contact in exchange for better draft pick returns, or could free up money by sending someone to the Bengals or restructuring 1 more contract, thereby easily having avenues to afford the star pass rusher.
The Bengals must decide by the trade deadline whether they take this last opportunity to send Hendrickson away for a return, or risk him hitting free agency next offseason and have to play the compensatory pick formula game to hope to get a 2027 Draft pick (a late 3rd or late 4th at best) out of Hendrickson.
The Saints are a team that has been stuck in neutral for a long time, and might look to finally start to rebuild soon after years of pushing their dead cap around with restructures and void years. They need to get younger and cheaper in order to do so. There could be a significant fire sale of assets coming, and the Colts could capitalize to bring a born and raised Hoosier back home.
Werner, a Cathedral High School graduate, has been a solid linebacker for the Saints. He has displayed speed, strength at shedding blocks, a reliable tackling form, and shown flashes in coverage as a MIKE/WILL Linebacker. He isn’t a star by any means at linebacker, but he has the high end athleticism that Ballard loves and the versatility that Anarumo wants while giving a bit more coverage ability than the rest of the current LB corps.
He just signed an extension with the Saints but is...
