Colts predicted to add 30-year-old Pro Bowler for Lou Anarumo's defense at trade deadline

To say the Indianapolis Colts have been a surprise this season would be an understatement.

There were no shortage of people who questioned the Colts' ability to compete in their own division this season, let alone for the best record in the NFL.

Yet, here we are after eight weeks. The Colts are sitting pretty with the league's best record at 7-1 and look like a well-oiled machine that has no brakes, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

General manager Chris Ballard needs to strike while the iron is hot and do whatever it takes to improve his roster to put the Colts in a better position to make a run at the Super Bowl in 2025.

One area he could address is the edge rusher group. The Colts' defense is doing a good job getting after the quarterback already, but Indy is lacking an elite edge rusher teams really have to fear.

The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer has a suggestion: he predicts the Colts will reunite defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo with one of his former players by acquiring Trey Hendrickson in a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals.

"The Bengals have tried to hold firm on not moving Hendrickson but the devastating loss to the Jets that really puts into question any second-half playoff surge may have changed their tune a little," Iyer wrote. "This is a no-brainer should Colts GM Chris Ballard want to be aggressive, given Hendrickson's massive sack production under former Cincinnati defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo."

Hendrickson tallied 57 sacks under Anarumo in Cincinnati, including a league-best 17.5 in 2024, which earned him his fourth Pro Bowl selection and first All-Pro nod. Hendrickson also led the entire NFL in sacks with 35 from 2023-24.

Adding Hendrickson would give the Colts the elite edge rusher they need to help bolster a pass defense that ranks 29th. And, Hendrickson's presence would also provide a significant boost for Indy's other edge rushers thanks to the attention Hendrickson commands.

Unfortunately, it remains unlikely the Bengals will part ways with him.

Several reports suggest Cincinnati thinks it can weather the storm until Joe Burrow gets back from injury and the Bengals have no interest in dealing their best defender as a result.

If Ballard wants to improve his edge rusher group, he'll have to look elsewhere.

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