NFL Trades Make Tough November Harder For Colts Defense

Source: Michael Hickey / Getty

The NFL saw some big-name players on the move on Tuesday, and it could spell bad news for the Colts down the road.  

It was announced that the Las Vegas Raiders have shipped off 3-time first team All-Pro receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets for a conditional 3rd-round draft selection that could become a 2nd if Adams is named an All-Pro or if the Jets make the AFC Championship or Super Bowl with Adams on the roster. Adams now rejoins his former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers as the Jets go all-in on their quest for a Super Bowl. 

Meanwhile, another AFC team made a move to improve its receiving core. The Buffalo Bills traded for Amari Cooper of the Cleveland Browns, sending them a 3rd and 7th in exchange for Cooper and a 6th.  Cooper, a 5-time Pro Bowler who began his career with the then-Oakland Raiders, before being traded to Dallas in 2018, goes from playing with one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL in Deshaun Watson to one of the best in Josh Allen. 

Both moves are ones that will make life a lot harder on the Indianapolis Colts and their much-maligned defense in an already tough month of November.

The Colts have the misfortune of playing the Bills and the Jets in back-to-back weeks in Weeks 10 and 11 respectively. By that point, both receivers should be well integrated into their new team’s offense, which doesn’t bode well for a Colts defense that has struggled against lesser competition.  The Colts finally held a team to under 383 yards of offense on Sunday against the Titans, but that was against Will Levis, who is looking more and more like he won’t be anything special.  

Allen is one of the best quarterbacks currently playing. Rodgers is a 1st-ballot Hall of Famer, and even if he is on the decline, he’s still a dangerous thrower of the football. Where Levis failed to take advantage of a weak Colts secondary, these two will thrive. That was true before they added new weapons, and it’s even more so after.  

The Colts will hopefully have some key players back in the lineup when these matchups do come to fruition; specifically, the return of DeForest Buckner will be big as the Colts pass rush has struggled in his absence. But even with his return, it was always going to be tough sledding in November for the Colts and their defense, especially with matchups against the undefeated Vikings and the Lions on the docket as well.  

Now, it could be even harder than initially imagined.  

During the Tuesday edition of The Ride With JMV, John spoke about NFL player movement, as well about other topics like the Pacers, the MLB Playoffs and more! Check all of that out down below, and tune into The Ride With JMV weekdays from 3-6pm on 93.5/107.5 The Fan!