The Indianapolis Colts are in their fire sale and rebuilding era. While the team has been agonizingly close to being competitive in the past, success has routinely been fleeting in the Shane Steichen era, leaving him as one of the most vulnerable head coaches in the NFL when it comes to guessing who will be fired next.

For a while it appeared as though the Colts were all aboard the rebuild train, after trading All-Pro offensive guard Quentin Nelson to the Seahawks and sending DeForest Buckner to the 49ers a day later — but now the team might be pumping the brakes on any more deals for a few days. NFL insider Jordan Schultz is reporting that the belief around the league is that the Colts have essentially hit pause on trade conversations and are choosing to play through the weekend, with an eye on dealing their biggest assets on Monday or Tuesday ahead of the trade deadline.

This is a move to try and squeeze as much juice out of their assets as possible, but it’s also a gamble that could backfire.

Indianapolis has three primary assets teams are looking to trade for: RB Jonathan Taylor, WR Josh Downs, and DT Grover Stewart. While a handful of other players could be dealt, those are really the three names making noise right now.

Taylor is the crown jewel of the market. If we look at the state of the league, there are a few teams that make the most sense: The Vikings, in dire need of an offense; the Seahawks, with a running attack that needs to be bolstered; and the Patriots, who need to take some pressure off Drake Maye being the bulk of the offense.

Minnesota is in a great spot at 6-1 atop the NFC North but feels like the team with the least gas to continue a run. Right now might be the best possible time to make a deal with the Vikings, giving them the offensive ammunition they so desperately need in order to compete with the Bills on Monday Night Football. If the Colts wait there’s a very good chance Minnesota loses to the Bills, falls to 6-2, slides out of first place in the division, and begins reassessing their chances. While a loss certainly wouldn’t put them out of contention, it might be enough to raise questions about whether or not adding Taylor would be enough to get them over the hump. If that happens, then a good trade return could evaporate.

In Seattle, there are going to be questions about whether or not the juice is worth the squeeze as well. This team already made a trade with the Colts to bolster their line, so double-dipping and adding a running back might be too rich for their blood. This team should be able to win easily over the Cardinals on Sunday, but that would get them to 5-4. This is an extremely good football team, but the way the NFC is breaking, it appears that both Wild Card spots will go to the NFC North, and there’s not a lot the Seahawks can do to change that. In the NFC West, the 49ers are in a great spot to win the division, with the Rams trying to make inroads. It’s a hard sell to let the games play out on Sunday, and if the 49ers, Rams, and Seahawks all win — then it’s increasingly difficult to buy the idea that Seattle needs to trade multiple picks to try and catch a 7-1 team in San Francisco.

When it comes to New England, they sit in a very similar position to the Seahawks. It’s just unclear if they have the juice to make a serious run this season, and with a tough game against the Packers on Sunday, the result of that game could determine if the Pats fall to 5-4. There’s so much competition for the Wild Card spots in the AFC that, again, this team could have a little more foresight and decide that parting with picks just before the deadline just isn’t worth it.

If reports are to be believed, and the lack of action in Indianapolis suggests they are, then it appears the Colts are in holding mode. The issue is that the longer they wait, the more likely it becomes that these player-needy teams will look in other directions or reassess the direction of their season. A nightmare scenario for Indianapolis would be to wait too long, see the most desperate teams bow out of discussion, and be forced to trade Taylor to someone like the 49ers, who are wily enough to offer a lesser trade packages the Colts are hoping for, knowing they’re in sell mode.

To a lesser extent, these same scenarios are also happening with Josh Downs and Grover Stewart. Simply put: There is a gulf emerging in the NFL between the best teams in the league, and those who are already looking ahead to 2027. This is not a great year to find a division leader who truly believes they’re “one piece away,” or find a team desperate enough to make a truly foolish deal (like the Colts did last season with their Hail Mary trade for Sauce Gardner). Front offices work on the idea of promise and imagination. The more games you allow to take place before making a deal, the more teams have clarity about what their situation actually is.

This is a “bird in the hand” moment for the Colts, and they truly might regret not getting these deals done now, instead of holding through the weekend.