It looks like Jonathan Taylor will get his wish after all. Entering the final season of his rookie contract, Taylor was hoping to get extended by the Indianapolis Colts. Once Indy made it clear that the organization had no desire to negotiate a new deal until next offseason, Taylor requested a trade. That request was initially denied, but on Monday, it was reported that Indy has granted Taylor permission to seek a trade.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that Taylor will be traded, just that Indianapolis will listen to offers. The Colts have already made other teams aware that they’re willing to do business, and Jonathan Taylor’s agent has already started reaching out to teams to see who’s interested.
Colts have given All-Pro RB Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade, per league sources. Other teams now are weighing whether to make an offer to the Colts and what would be fair value. pic.twitter.com/AT7GgJGLAQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2023
Colts are willing to trade Jonathan Taylor for a high asking price
If Taylor is traded, it will take a lot. Indy is reportedly asking for a first-round pick, or a package of picks with similar value to one first. Not only will a team have to send a lot to Indianapolis in exchange for one of the league’s best young players, but the trade partner must be willing to offer Taylor a sizable contract extension. It’s unclear what kind of contract Taylor is interested in, but he’s one of the best players in the NFL, and is only 24 years old, so he’s worth a lot.
In three NFL seasons, Jonathan Taylor has played in 43 games, carrying the ball 756 times for 3,841 yards and 33 touchdowns. He’s also added 104 receptions for 802 yards and three receiving touchdowns, and has been named First-Team All-Pro, and voted to the Pro Bowl. There should be plenty of teams willing to sign up for a player of that caliber.
As for the Colts, if Taylor is traded, the running back room would consist of Zack Moss, who’s currently out with a broken arm, Kenyan Drake, Deon Jackson, Evan Hull, Jake Funk, and Jason Huntley. None of them are near the caliber of running back that Taylor is, and that will hurt Indianapolis if they lose Taylor, especially since the team is adding a young quarterback into the mix.