Could the Indianapolis Colts trade running back Khalil Herbert? Wait a second, didn’t they just sign him this offseason? The answer is yes. Yet, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine listed Herbert as a potential trade candidate:
“Top Trade Assets: QB Anthony Richardson, EDGE Kwity Paye, RB Khalil Herbert
Cap Space: $20.6 million”
Indianapolis has Jonathan Taylor, one of the NFL’s top running backs. While he’s still a star, he has battled injuries over the past few years. Taylor’s backups last season, Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson, just didn’t get the job done.
Therefore, the Colts signed Herbert to a one-year deal worth $1.3 million in free agency. He obviously hasn’t played a game for Indy yet. So it’s too early to speculate that he’ll be traded. But then again, maybe he will be traded at some point in 2025. You never know.
Looking Back at Herbert’s Career
Khalil Herbert began his collegiate career at the University of Kansas. During his four seasons with the Jayhawks, he rushed for 1,735 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 114 yards.
Herbert then went to Virginia Tech as a graduate transfer. He had a school-record 358 all-purpose yards versus Duke. In that game, he recorded 208 rushing yards and 150 kick return yards as his Hokies won 38-31. Herbert finished his lone season at Virginia Tech with 1,182 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He also returned 16 kicks for 430 yards. His kick return average of 26.9 yards led the ACC.
The Chicago Bears later took Khalil Herbert in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He had a career-high 731 rushing yards and four touchdowns during the 2022 campaign. Herbert would spend four seasons in Chicago, starting 12 of his 48 games. He was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024. He rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown last season.
Will the Colts Trade Him?
When the Colts signed Khalil Herbert, he was basically guaranteed to be Taylor’s primary backup. But then the team drafted running back DJ Giddens in this year’s draft. Giddens, the fifth-round pick out of Kansas State, could outplay Herbert and turn out to be a huge steal for the Colts.
Kevin Hickey of The Sporting News wrote about the Colts possibly trading Herbert:
“This kind of transaction wouldn’t come in the form of a blockbuster move. The Colts likely wouldn’t get more than a late Day 3 pick in exchange for Herbert. With that said, they could pursue that route during the season if Taylor stays healthy and Giddens takes over the backup role. Herbert is a good depth piece to have on the roster but if the Colts get an intriguing offer, it may be difficult for Ballard to decline.”
Hickey is right. The Colts wouldn’t land much more than a Day 3 pick if they traded Herbert. And yes, he is a good depth piece for the team. The Colts need as much running back depth as possible. Indy can’t afford to get rid of a running back, considering Taylor’s recent injury history. It’s highly unlikely that Herbert gets traded.