GM Chris Ballard Says Colts Open to Trading Back from 6th Pick in 2018 NFL Draft

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said Friday the team is willing to trade the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network passed along comments Ballard made on Good Morning Football about the selection the Colts acquired in a previous trade with the New York Jets.

"We will be open to moving back if we think it is the right thing for us to do and there's enough players on the board, depending on how far we have to move back, that we feel comfortable taking," Ballard said.

Indianapolis already moved back from No. 3 to No. 6 in its deal with the Jets. Sliding further down to acquire more assets makes sense with the top of the draft expected to feature a lot of quarterbacks.

Andrew Luck missed the 2017 season with a lingering shoulder injury, but the Colts are confident he'll return this year and reassert himself as a franchise QB.

"All indicators are [the] healing is going really well and we feel really optimistic that he's turned the corner and has a full decade ahead of him of excellence," team owner Jim Irsay told reporters in March. "That's a long period of time."

The Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots are among the teams that may seek an opportunity to move up in Round 1 to grab a quarterback.

Indianapolis could drop into the middle of the first round, increase its draft capital and still land a highly touted prospect. It's a win-win situation.

The one exception could be if Penn State running back Saquon Barkley is available at No. 6. The Colts need an upgrade at the position, and the Nittany Lions standout could take a lot of pressure off Luck.