Colts general manager Chris Ballard open to trading up or down in draft order if situation is right

Though most of the pre-draft discussion leading into Thursday's festivities has centered on which teams could move up into the top few picks, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard quipped Friday in his pre-draft press conference that reporters seemingly already expect him to trade down, saying that he can "already see the article."

But though he joked about it, Ballard was clear that right now he feels there's a possibility the Colts move either direction in the order, if the situation is right.

"History, I just go off history. And you know, the more picks you have, the better chance you have to hit. Now, of course, you're not going to hit on all of them, but it gives you more of a chance to hit," Ballard said. "Look, we've moved up, we moved up for Jonathan Taylor. When we see one that's in striking distance that we think we can go get, we'll do it. But it's got to work out. And then you've got to have too, you've got to have somebody that wants to make the trade."

As he referenced, in his seven seasons as the Colts GM, Ballard has completed pivotal trades where he moved in both directions, with some of the cornerstones of the franchise coming to Indianapolis via a carefully crafted pick exchange. In 2020 a deal with the Browns to move up to the No. 41 pick overall netted him Taylor, who needless to say, has played a vital role for the offense since joining the team. And earlier in that same draft the Colts selected wide receiver Michael Pittman with a second-round pick they acquired from trading out of the first round in 2019. The wideout has rewarded them with two 1,000-plus receiving yard seasons so far, and just signed a new extension.

Whether Ballard once again makes a move with this year's No. 15 pick will