There is no telling what the Indianapolis Colts will do with the No. 34 overall pick and while it is more likely that general manager Chris Ballard trades back and adds more draft capital, he will have a trade partner in the San Francisco 49ers if he wants to move up.
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With the 2020 NFL draft beginning on Thursday, the Colts won’t be on the clock at all unless they trade up into the first round. Should they want to do so, the 49ers are reportedly open to trading the No. 31 overall pick, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
49ers fielding calls on both their first-round picks, No. 13 and No. 31 overall, and are open to dealing either or both picks, per league sources. After 31, 49ers not scheduled to pick again until No. 156 in fifth round. No second-, third- and fourth-round picks. Want more picks.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 20, 2020
The only reason the Colts would want to move up to No. 31 is likely to grab a quarterback that has either fallen or for a quarterback to get ensure the fifth-year option on the rookie contract.
Moving up three spots wouldn’t be all that difficult for the Colts, who have seven total selections in the draft. They would likely give up their fourth-round pick (No. 122) as well as the No. 34 pick to move up to No. 31.
With all this said, it is more likely that the Colts don’t trade up from No. 34. Ballard has made it clear that he wants to add more picks, which means moving back is more likely.
And while it does fall under the category of “coach speak,” Ballard seems adamant about not forcing a quarterback selection.
“You can’t force the quarterback position, especially in the draft. I think history has shown that,” Ballard said Friday. “It’s got to be the right guy, the right fit for us and for our staff and for our organization.”
Whether the Colts will move up remains to be seen but if Ballard gets the itch to move up a couple of spots, he has a potential partner in the 49ers.
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