The Indianapolis Colts have said they don't want to trade running back Jonathan Taylor, and there is a chance that, come Week 10, Taylor is still suiting up for Indy. The trade deadline is on Tuesday, November 10, at 4 pm ET, so at least fans will know the RB's fate by then.
After another loss in Week 9 -- this time to the Dallas Cowboys, 27-23 -- Taylor was asked what he would say to Colts fans if he had just played his last game for Indianapolis. The running back was ready with a great answer.
"I just hope they appreciate (me), and know that I appreciate them," Taylor said. "It was a pleasure to put on display not only all of my hard work but the team's hard work each and every single week, each and every single year."
Jonathan Taylor appears emotionally prepared to be traded by the Indianapolis Colts
As of Monday, Taylor is still with Indianapolis, but his answer sounds as if he is prepared to leave. The decision isn't his, of course. That lies with owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon and acting general manager Ed Dodds. A team would have to offer quite a lot to acquire the running back, but a team like that could exist.
According to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, the Colts are expected to take the best offer for Taylor by the trade deadline. What that offer is and which team it comes from is unknown, obviously. It could be that no team offers enough, and Taylor remains with the Colts.
While that would be great for fans, is it really best for the team? Jonathan Taylor and Sauce Gardner could be the most valuable trade pieces the Indianapolis Colts have. Indy has to build for the future and needs draft capital to do that.
Taylor is a fantastic player, but the running back role is diminished in the NFL. No team proves better than Indianapolis that having an elite running back doesn't mean a team is going to consistently contend for the playoffs. A quarterback, high-end wide receiver, and edge rusher are more important positions.
Getting winners at those spots in the draft would help the Colts in the long term more than hanging onto Taylor. If a team offers a second-round pick and an early Day 3 pick, then Indianapolis should accept the offer. If Taylor leaves, rookie Seth McGowan would take over the RB1 role and likely be fine.
A good running back can be had late in the draft. McGowan was a seventh-round choice in 2026, for instance. A good receiver or edge rusher is less likely to be found past the early part of Day 2. Picks matter, and that is where Taylor's greatest value lies.
Losing him to another team would stink, but it makes sense for the health of the Indianapolis organization. The Colts don't have a first-round choice in 2027, but could have multiple second-round choices if a Taylor trade brings back one. Indy shouldn't say no to the potential situation, but Taylor should feel safe in the knowledge that Colts fans will always appreciate him.
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