Speaking during minicamp this week, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor said he wanted to be a Colt for the rest of his career. In reality, he might only be in Indy one more season. That could be because of the job security of general manager Chris Ballard.
Ballard tends to wait almost too long to extend players. That might have been the reason he had to potentially overpay for quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce this offseason. Looking toward the future, Ballard needs to extend Taylor and left guard Quenton Nelson, among others.
If Colts ownership doesn't think that Ballard is going to be around after this coming season, however, the team isn't going to allow the GM to dole out contracts that could hamstring the new general manager. Ballard has already done that to a degree by giving up multiple first-round draft selections to get Sauce Gardner last season.
Indianapolis Colts might not have extended Jonathan Taylor due to Chris Ballard's situation
Of course, if Indianapolis ownership, seemingly led by the more vocal Carlie Irsay-Gordon, is telling Ballard not to spend too much this offseason on future contract situations that could have a negative impact on Indy, too. Taylor and Nelson are still young enough to help Indianapolis win games for several more seasons.
Not that the team can't or won't address the Taylor and Nelson situations next offseason, but the risk is greater. Another team could offer more, or prove that they might be closer to winning a championship than Indianapolis is.
Nelson and Taylor have made enough in their careers already to be set for life. They could be looking to win titles more than simply raking in the dollar bills. Would they feel as if they need to leave the Indianapolis Colts to have a real chance of that happening?
The hope is that the arc of both of their careers and the future of the franchise changes this coming season. Maybe key players stay healthier, and the team maintains close to the same level of success it had in the first half of last season over the course of the entire season in 2026.
If that occurs, Jonathan Taylor and Quenton Nelson might think that the Colts have a real chance of getting to the Super Bowl soon. The defense could be much better in the new season, and the offense should be more than solid under the direction of head coach Shane Steichen.
Or Indianapolis could struggle to another mediocre record, and the organization is looking at major changes next offseason. Steichen and Ballard could be gone. Nelson and Taylor could be too.
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