Colts Trade Eight-Time Pro Bowl Guard Quenton Nelson to Seahawks for Two Draft Picks

By The Arena Staff

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 27, 2026 — For nine seasons, the left side of the Colts' line started with Quenton Nelson. On Tuesday, Indianapolis decided a pair of draft picks was worth more than waiting to see whether he would leave on his own.

The Colts traded the eight-time Pro Bowl guard to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, the team announced. Sources also confirmed the deal to ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, and ESPN noted that Nelson is on an expiring contract, so the Colts chose to collect draft capital now rather than risk losing him in free agency.

Indianapolis drafted Nelson sixth overall in 2018, and he became an anchor almost immediately. He was a first-team AP All-Pro in each of his first three seasons, made the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight and started 136 games for the franchise, according to Colts.com. The 30-year-old is in the final year of the four-year, $80 million extension he signed in 2022, NFL.com reported.

The timing says plenty about where the Colts are. They are 2-5 after Sunday's loss to Minnesota and fired general manager Chris Ballard on Oct. 19, which set off talk that they would sell before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. Nelson was one of the first names mentioned. Asked about it last week, he said he was "just focused on being my best and giving my absolute all every single day in everything I do." Colts.com said 2026 fourth-round pick Jalen Farmer could get a look at left guard, and NFL.com flagged running back Jonathan Taylor and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner as other Colts to watch before the deadline.

Seattle gets a proven blocker for an offense that has been ordinary in its Super Bowl title defense. The 4-3 Seahawks rank 15th in yards and 13th in points, have allowed a 38.4% pressure rate on their quarterback and have given up 16 sacks, NFL.com reported, citing Next Gen Stats. There were signs of life in Sunday's win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs, when Emanuel Wilson became the first Seattle back to reach 100 yards in a game this season.

It is also a familiar move for Seahawks general manager John Schneider. This is the fourth straight year he has made a midseason deal, following trades for Leonard Williams in 2023, Ernest Jones in 2024 and Rashid Shaheed in 2025.

Sources: Colts.com, NFL.com and ESPN.