2026 for the Indianapolis Colts is a make-or-break season for many involved in the organization. That definitely includes general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen, but what happens with them could determine the fates of players such as running back Jonathan Taylor.
That's because if Indy doesn't make the playoffs next season and Ballard and/or Steichen must go, then whoever replaces them could have a different theory for how the team is run and how the roster should look in the long run. That could affect Taylor because he is a free agent in 2027.
He is so good, in fact, that he ranks second on a new listing by The Athletic (subscription required) of the best potential free agents next offseason. The running back will get paid quite a lot next year, assuming he stays healthy and productive in 2026, and hopefully, money will come from Indy. It might not.
The Athletic ranks Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor as its second-best free agent in 2027
Also, to make matters a bit scarier for Colts fans, left guard Quenton Nelson, a sure-fire Pro Football Hall of Famer five years after he retires, is also set to be a free agent. He ranks fourth on The Athletic's list.
Daniel Popper of The Athletic says of Taylor, "Taylor signed a three-year, $42 million extension during the 2023 season. He has lived up to that contract, especially over the past two seasons. Among running backs, only Bijan Robinson, Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs and Saquon Barkley have more scrimmage yards than Taylor since the start of the 2024 season. Taylor will be entering his age-28 season in 2027."
The good part is that the Colts are projected to have a bit over $84 million to spend next offseason, according to Over the Cap. That is definitely enough to re-sign Jonathan Taylor and Quenton Nelson, though those aren't the only players Indy will need to worry about bringing back.
Defensive linemen DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart will both be free agents, though both are in their 30s now and might be allowed to walk away. Wide receiver Josh Downs is also a free agent.
Plus, 2028 could be an issue, too. Quarterback Daniel Jones will once again be a free agent, as he only signed a two-year deal this offseason. Extending Taylor is likely a must, especially as he is only in his late 20s, but will the team build the offense around him, or would a new head coach and general manager look to build around the quarterback?
What Indianapolis Colts fans know for sure is that hopefully the team has a successful 2026 season, makes the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and maybe battles for the AFC South crown for the first time since 2014. If all that happens, Ballard and Steichen will probably still be around in 2027, and so will Jonathan Taylor and Quenton Nelson.
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