In 2023, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor wanted a new contract, but then-owner Jim Irsay wasn't quite wanting to give the star what he wanted. In reaction, Taylor held something of a "hold-in."
He still appeared at training camp but didn't participate in drills. The reason given was that the running back was coming back from ankle surgery and he couldn't practice or play in the first four games of 2023. The odd part is that when he finally did sign a new deal in early October, he immediately played. One can interpret the coincidence however they want.
In 2026, Taylor is entering the final season of the contract he signed in 2023, and he is still extremely productive and just 27 years old. A good chance exists that Taylor's next contract could be his last in the NFL. Running backs tend to get old fast and tend to get paid a lesser amount as they get older.
Indianapolis Colts fans will want to keep an eye on the Jonathan Taylor situation in training camp
Knowing this, would Taylor entertain following the same path he followed in 2023? He doesn't have an offseason surgery or a 2025 injury to use as an excuse for another hold-in, but Taylor holds most of the power in any contract negotiations. That is rare for a player.
Of course, the entire 2026 season is a rare one for the Colts. One should assume that general manager Chris Ballard's team needs to make the playoffs, or Ballard and/or head coach Shane Steichen could be let go. Ballard is the more likely candidate, as he has only tasted the postseason twice in his nine years on the job. He has never won the AFC South.
This makes any negotiations with Jonathan Taylor more complicated. Even while the running back has been elite at his position, leading the NFL in touchdowns twice and rushing once, Indianapolis hasn't made the playoffs since his rookie season in 2020. This implies the team couldn't be less successful without Taylor, as it hasn't been successful overall with him.
Ballard might also be hamstrung by his own job security. Would he give Taylor a contract that potentially pays him $20 million a season? The highest-paid running back currently is the Philadelphia Eagles' Saquon Barkley, who makes an average of $20.6 million a season. Barkley is also two years older than Taylor, so the Indianapolis Colts running back should ask for Barkley-type money.
The general manager might not feel the freedom to do that. Taylor still has a year left on his contract, and he either shows up at training camp or can be fined. He can't miss games either. The running back could come to camp and not participate in drills, as he did in 2023, and Colts fans will know there is a growing issue between the player and the team.
The truth is that even while Indianapolis hasn't been making the playoffs, Jonathan Taylor has been great. The team would be worse without him. He is going to get paid a lot one way or another after 2026, whether that money comes from Indy or some other team. The hope, of course, is that he remains with the Colts for the foreseeable future.
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