Things are about to heat up across the league in terms of roster shuffling and potential trades. It's safe to say the Indianapolis Colts will be one of the teams at the forefront of much news in the coming days.
The Colts officially gave running back Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade, but have since given him a deadline of Tuesday to find a suitor. Tuesday, of course, is the NFL's roster cutdown day where teams are expected to get their rosters down to 53 players.
So far, there are rumored to be six teams that have shown interest in Taylor, per ESPN. Indianapolis wants a first-round pick in return, or equivalent value, but that doesn't seem all too possible as it stands. Still, a trade could happen.
Which teams are interested, and what would a trade look like? We try and take a stab at answering those questions.
1. Buffalo Bills
The first team we see that makes sense for Taylor is a Super Bowl contender like the Buffalo Bills. All offseason long, we've heard nothing but positive regarding James Cook, and he is the clear-cut starter in that back field. Cook will have plenty of opportunity to touch the ball this year and prove he can be the every-down back Buffalo needs.
But, if you give that offense Jonathan Taylor, to go along with Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Dawson Knox, Dalton Kincaid and Gabe Davis, it could be absolutely lethal.
The Bills would likely have to include Cook in any deal, which only makes sense for both sides. If Buffalo sent Cook, along with something like a second or third-round pick, or maybe a combination of a second and mid-round pick, that could get it done.
2. Minnesota Vikings
The second team that makes sense is last year's NFC North Champions, the Minnesota Vikings. Already, they possess a potent offense featuring maybe the best wide receiver in the game in Justin Jefferson. Kirk Cousins has been "good enough" since landing in Minnesota, but he doesn't appear to be the guy who can be the reason Minnesota wins the big games.
Dalvin Cook certainly helped the offense's cause, but he's gone. Now, it's up to Alexander Mattison to shoulder the load. While Minnesota has shown a lot of belief in Mattison, Taylor would be a massive upgrade. Putting a top-5 running back on the same offense as Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison could make things real fun in that division.
If Minnesota wants to take a shot at landing Taylor, I would assume they throw Mattison into the deal. But, because Mattison is no where near the established talent, the Vikings would certainly have to give up a package of picks along the lines of second and a third-round pick.
The Colts wouldn't get a first rounder, but they likely won't get that from anyone. If they want to make a deal, this could be one of the best offers they see, and in turn, Minnesota would look at being the favorite to win this division for the second-straight year.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
The reigning NFC Champions have to be on this list, right? The Philadelphia Eagles love their running backs. It hasn't mattered who the head coach is over the past few years. They simply use a plethora of backs, and that hasn't changed. Only last year, they operated by using Miles Sanders the most he had been used over his career. Other than 2022, it's been a bunch of different guys.
Now, it appears as though Kenneth Gainwell is shockingly ahead of the group and leads the way as the starting running back. That means he's plunged ahead of both D'Andre Swift, whom the Eagles traded for earlier this offseason, along with Rashaad Penny, whom the team signed this year as well.
In any deal for Taylor, you can pick whichever back in Philly that you'd like to send to Indianapolis. Regardless, it's going to take a pretty package of picks along with that back in order to land Taylor. This is especially true because Philadelphia's picks will likely be in the back end of each round.
If the Eagles offered one of their running backs, plus a pair of second rounders, that may be enough to get a trade done.
4. Chicago Bears
Maybe the most fun idea out of them all would be to place Jonathan Taylor in the same back field as Justin Fields. The Bears probably wouldn't be Super Bowl-bound by any means, but that offense would go from one with potential to one that could actually be explosive, pushing to be a top-10 unit.
This obviously depends a lot on whether or not Fields takes the next step as a passer in his third season, but adding Taylor to a back field that led the NFL in rushing last season? Now that's a heck of an idea.
The Bears saw David Montgomery leave via free agency, and thus gave Khalil Herbert the lead role. Chicago signed D'Onta Foreman to back up Herbert, along with drafting Roschon Johnson out of Texas who looks like a future stud that could take over starting duties next year.
But, if the Bears offered a package like Herbert and a second rounder, maybe that's enough for the Colts to bite on. Herbert averaged 5.7 yards per carry last year on 129 totes and has two years left on his rookie deal. That's a pretty strong reason to like Herbert returning in the deal.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
Any time you see an elite offensive player on the trade block, the Kansas City Chiefs are going to enter the conversation, at least from fans' perspectives. Patrick Mahomes is the best player in football, period. Adding more offensive talent to his unit seems frightening, but it's certainly possible.
The funny thing about the Chiefs and Taylor is the fact that they had the opportunity to draft Taylor at the very beginning, but decided to go with Clyde Edwards-Helaire instead. That led to the Colts being able to snag Taylor in the second round, and now Edwards-Helaire has found himself out of a job to a guy who went undrafted last year in Isiah Pacheco.
The Chiefs, like the Eagles, will have picks in the back end of rounds. So, offering a package centered around Pacheco and a couple of picks would mean that Kansas City would have to give up a second and third-round selection, in all likelihood.
The other aspect of this deal is an extension, which any team would of course have to have planned for Taylor. The Chiefs weren't ready to pay Tyreek Hill, and don't appear ready to pay Chris Jones. Are they really ready to pay up for a running back?
6. Miami Dolphins
Lastly, the only team that's been confirmed to have interest is the Miami Dolphins. And it makes a ton of sense.
Mike McDaniel's offense is a whole lot of fun and he uses the running back position quite often, but isn't afraid to use multiple backs. The only problem with his current group is that they are not prone to injury, and that's being generous. Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson have a history of injury, and rookie DeVon Achane recently suffered an injury as well.
Now, that sounds funny since Taylor is coming off an injury, too. But, assuming Taylor is healthy, the Dolphins could easily possess the best offense in football if they were to land him. Now, what type of deal would Miami need to offer?
One would assume the Colts aren't interested in Mostert or Wilson. So, do the Dolphins offer up the rookie, Achane, whose injury doesn't appear to be serious?
Let's say they gave up Achane and a pair of picks, somewhere along the lines of two thirds or a second and a fourth. That very well could get it done.