NFL Insider Reveals Colts’ Top Desire Ahead of Trade Deadline
Through the first seven weeks of the 2025 campaign, the Indianapolis Colts have been the best team in the NFL. With a 6-1 record, the Colts have been dominating opponents on a near-weekly basis, and in the process, they have proved that they are very much the real deal, which is a worrying sign for the rest of the league.
Indianapolis is still looking for ways to beef up its roster, though, as evidenced by the fact that the team brought six defenders in for a workout on Tuesday, with two-time Super Bowl champion Shaquil Barrett highlighting that group. The Colts could also wind up being busy at the trade deadline, with a recent report revealing what the team is looking for as the deadline draws near.
Colts Looking to Add ‘Proven Defensive Playmaker’ at Trade Deadline
The #Colts, who own the NFL’s best record at 6-1, are viewed around the league as a team to watch ahead of the trade deadline — with their focus on adding a proven defensive playmaker, per sources.
Indy has experimented with in-season free agent signings and even players coming
Indy’s rise early in the 2025 campaign has come from seemingly out of nowhere. After turning to Daniel Jones as their starting quarterback ahead of Week 1, expectations for the Colts weren’t particularly high. Instead, Jones has helped turn the team’s offense into one of the most efficient units the NFL has ever seen.
The defensive side of the ball has also been solid for Indianapolis, but it’s clear this group has benefited greatly from the sheer dominance of the team’s offense. With the Colts frequently playing from ahead, they have been able to play pretty aggressively on defense, whether it be with their blitz packages up front or their coverage schemes in the secondary.
When it comes to overall star power, though, Indy is lacking in that department on defense, which could eventually come back to hurt them. The Colts know that bigger challenges are coming their way in the future, so with that in mind, it has led to them targeting a “proven defensive playmaker” ahead of the trade deadline.
“The Colts, who own the NFL’s best record at 6-1, are viewed around the league as a team to watch ahead of the trade deadline — with their focus on adding a proven defensive playmaker, per sources,” Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reported in a post on X. “Indy has experimented with in-season free agent signings and even players coming out of retirement, but targeting a real difference-maker for DC Lou Anarumo is something to watch.”
Who Could the Colts Target at the Trade Deadline?
Indianapolis could obviously take a flier on a guy like Barrett in free agency, but the chances of him becoming a true factor for the team are somewhat low, which is why turning to the trade market makes sense. Right off the bat, a pair of Cincinnati Bengals players, Trey Hendrickson and Logan Wilson, would make sense for the Colts, given their ties to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who previously worked as the Bengals’ defensive coordinator.
The likelihood of Hendrickson getting moved appears low, but with Wilson’s role getting chopped in half by Cincy’s coaching staff, the do-it-all linebacker could be a perfect fit for Indy. A lot would need to happen in order for this sort of trade to become a reality, but with the Colts on a roll, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them be aggressive in their quest to fill this one major need before the deadline slams shut.
Ryan Leonard has a toe drag release like Connor Bedard and it’s getting national attention
Ryan Leonard scored the game-winning goal in the Washington Capitals’ 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday. But Leonard is seemingly getting more attention on social media for a shot he rang off the crossbar earlier in the night.
The Capitals’ rookie forward employed a toe drag release, a shot technique becoming increasingly popular among younger, highly-skilled players. The move allowed Leonard to use Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn as a screen and change the angle of his shot, fooling Kraken goaltender Matt Murray just enough to beat him past the glove.
“Look at that shot,” Monumental Sports Network’s Craig Laughlin said. “That is deceptive. That is hard to pick up.”
Leonard’s tricky release and heavy, accurate shot is one of the many tools he owns that make his NHL future so bright. Capitals defense prospect Ryan Chesley called Leonard’s shot “elite” and “NHL ready” during the team’s 2023 Development camp.
“It’s tough,” added Chesley, a former USNTDP teammate of Leonard’s. “He can kind of release it from anywhere on the ice and it’s tough to defend.”
The toe drag release Leonard used on Tuesday is most famously employed by Chicago Blackhawks forward and 2023 first-overall pick, Connor Bedard, who has created many highlights over the years with the move.
The extra movement with the puck can freeze a goalie, opening up more space at the net.
“It’s impressive,” Bedard’s teammate Nick Foligno said in 2023 to the NHL Network. “I know it fools our goalies, and it’s a matter of time before [it] fools a lot of others in this league.”
And now, you could say the same for Leonard as well.
