2023 NFL Season: 3 major in-season trades that could go down

2023 NFL Season: 3 major in-season trades that could go down

C Ryan Kelly to the Denver Broncos

The Indianapolis Colts are not going to be a serious team this year.  They are in year one with a rookie head coach and QB, so this is likely going to be a lean year of transition for the team, who has cycled through veteran QBs each year since Andrew Luck shockingly retired.  Well, the Colts did draft some OL in the 2023 NFL Draft, and one of their more veteran players on their entire roster is Ryan Kelly, their center.

Kelly, 30, was a first round pick back in 2016 and has been the Colts’ full-time starter at center ever since.  He’s a three-time Pro Bowler and was at one point one of the best in the NFL.  He took a small step back in 2022, but so did the entire offensive line in Indy.

Moreover, Kelly has just two years left on his current contract, and the Colts can enjoy some nice cap savings in the 2023 NFL season and in 2024.  They’d save $10.1 million this year and $12.3 million next year if they traded Kelly before the trade deadline in 2023.

Kelly is still a solid center, but perhaps Indianapolis desires to go in a different direction at some point with someone who is younger and cheaper.  The Denver Broncos feel like a logical landing spot for Kelly.  Denver boosted their OL in free agency, signing LG Ben Powers and RT Mike McGlinchey.  Depending on where you look, you’ll see the Broncos’ OL with pretty high praise going into the 2023 NFL season.

However, they have a huge hole at center that Lloyd Cushenberry is projected to fill.  The issue there is, though, is Cushenberry is not good, at all.  He’s one of the worst starting centers in the NFL and if Denver is in a decent enough position by the time the deadline rolls around, they might want to boost their OL if Cushenberry proves to not be the one to lockdown that center spot.