Albany State Professional Athletes

Albany State's Grover Stewart at the Center of NFL's Biggest Trade Frenzy

The Indianapolis Colts are blowing it up, and Albany State's Grover Stewart is the most coveted piece of the rubble.

As Tuesday's NFL trade deadline approached, the Colts accelerated what can only be described as a full-scale roster fire sale. Left guard Quenton Nelson went to the Seattle Seahawks. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner landed with the San Francisco 49ers. And now, the rumor mill has fully zeroed in on Stewart — a $71 million run-stuffing DT in the final year of his contract on a rebuilding team with no reason to hold back.

At least two marquee franchises are circling.

The Cowboys Want Him

Pro Football Focus identified Grover Stewart as a direct fit for the Dallas Cowboys' biggest defensive need heading into the deadline, per Sports Illustrated. Dallas's defensive interior has been a liability, and Stewart — a mountain of a man who anchors the line of scrimmage against the run — represents exactly the kind of proven, plug-in solution contenders chase at the deadline.

The Patriots Are Pushing Hard

New England's interest may be even more aggressive. ESPN's Bill Barnwell publicly urged the Patriots to acquire Stewart to shore up a run defense that has struggled in 2026. Meanwhile, a separate proposal floated by a longtime radio host would send Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson and a draft pick to Indianapolis in exchange for Stewart. That's not a throwaway concept — it's the kind of structured deal that signals genuine momentum.

Indianapolis Has Heard an Enticing Offer

According to Yahoo Sports, the Colts have already received at least one enticing trade offer for Stewart. With the deadline bearing down and Indianapolis firmly in seller mode, the reporting suggests the front office's posture has shifted from "listening" to "ready to move." Stewart, along with Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs, and Keenan Allen, is part of a wave of veterans whose departures would signal the organization's full commitment to a rebuild.

The Bigger Picture for Albany State

Stewart's situation is a remarkable moment for a program that rarely produces trade-deadline headliners. The Albany State (Ga.) product has carved out a long, respected career as one of the NFL's premier run-stuffers — durable, disruptive, and now, at the center of a bidding war between teams with legitimate Super Bowl ambitions.

No other Albany State alumni — Seahawks linebacker D'Anthony Bell or Ravens safety Dexter Moody — generated significant news during the November 1–7 window. This week belonged entirely to Stewart, whose next jersey could be determined before the newsletter hits your inbox.

The Colts' fire sale is already historic. Where Stewart lands may be its defining move.

Albany State's Stewart Could Be Next Domino to Fall in Indianapolis

The Indianapolis Colts are blowing it up, and Albany State alumnus Grover Stewart is squarely in the crosshairs.

With the NFL trade deadline approaching, multiple reports have identified the 33-year-old defensive tackle as one of the most likely Colts players to be dealt. Stewart joins a crowded list of Indianapolis names on the block — including Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and Jonathan Taylor — as the Colts pivot hard toward a rebuild after a brutal stretch of losses.

The fire sale kicked off in earnest with the trade of defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers, a move that visibly shook the locker room. Stewart himself was among those who publicly reacted to the Buckner deal, per Bleacher Report — a moment of candor that underscored just how fast the organization is moving on from its veterans. Now Stewart may be next in line to walk out the door.

Why Stewart Makes Sense to Move

The logic behind dealing Stewart is straightforward. Per Heavy Sports, Stewart is on an expiring contract, making him a classic sell-high candidate for a rebuilding franchise. A team with playoff ambitions gets a proven interior disruptor for a rental; the Colts get draft capital they can use in their retool. With Indianapolis sitting at a loss after falling to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, the urgency to accelerate that timeline is only growing.

One specific trade scenario has already been floated publicly: a pitch sending Stewart to the Carolina Panthers, surfaced by FanSided's Wynston Wilcox and reported by Heavy Sports. The Panthers, still building their defensive infrastructure, represent a plausible landing spot for a veteran presence like Stewart.

Sports Illustrated went a step further, publishing a breakdown of potential trade packages for Stewart alongside Taylor and Downs — treating the Albany State product as one of the three marquee assets the Colts have left to move before the deadline bell rings.

The New England Patriots have also been connected to the Colts' sell-off more broadly. Heavy Sports reported that Indianapolis' next two trades could involve New England, though Stewart's specific destination remains unresolved.

The Bigger Picture

Stewart's situation is a stark illustration of where the Colts franchise stands right now. Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner are already gone. Anthony Richardson's trade situation continues to linger in the background. What's left is a roster being systematically stripped for future assets — and Stewart, one of the more durable and recognizable pieces of that defense, is a prime chip.

For Albany State fans tracking one of the program's most prominent NFL alumni, the next few days will be telling. The trade deadline won't wait, and neither will the Colts.

No notable in-game stats were available for Stewart from the Oct. 25 contest against Minnesota.