The Indianapolis Colts have become one of the NFL's clearest sellers as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches. The team is 2-5 overall, has lost three straight, and recently fired longtime general manager Chris Ballard. This week, they traded away All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner for future draft picks, though the Colts still don't have a first-round pick in 2027 after sending their own to the New York Jets in exchange for Sauce Gardner last season.
Jonathan Taylor has since become the hottest name in the rumor mill as a proven talent still performing at an elite level, with 587 rushing yards and a league-leading eight rushing touchdowns through seven games. A three-time Pro Bowler and one of the best running backs of the last decade, he offers contenders an immediate workhorse back and the Colts a chance to recoup premium draft capital. Rumors picked up drastically on Saturday as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported alongside NFL insider Ian Rapoport that the Colts are now open to trading Taylor, and that multiple teams have reached out, describing discussions as active and ongoing.
This marks a significant change in Indianapolis' position, as earlier reports were that they hoped to remain competitive and wanted to keep Taylor around for the future. But after trading away two other cornerstone players, the Colts now appear willing to move on from their star running back. More news: Jonathan Taylor Touted as Missing Piece for Super Bowl Contender Indianapolis has plenty of reasons to consider turning Taylor into future picks, even if they've insisted up to this point that they have no intention of doing so.
Taylor is 27 years old and under contract through 2028 after signing a two-year, $44 million extension in August, making him a valuable asset for a team that might view itself as one piece away from a Super Bowl. He's one of the highest-paid backs in the league, but he's earned that contract and hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. The Colts' asking price, however, is substantial.
Recent reports indicate that Indianapolis has already received at least one offer involving a second-round pick and additional compensation. Given that the team doesn't have any first-round picks in 2027 and is clearly building for the future, it's fair to assume that the Colts want at least one first-round pick in return for Taylor. More news: Ravens Get Urgent Warning Ahead of Massive Bills Showdown More news: NFL Insider Reveals Titans’ Plans for Cam Ward Ahead of Trade Deadline Several teams have been linked to Taylor in recent days, including the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Minnesota Vikings.
Green Bay and Denver need a more productive running game, while Minnesota needs more firepower on offense to take some of the load off their elite defense. The Giants, too, have struggled to stay consistent in the ground game. The timing of Schefter's report is particularly interesting given that the Colts are travelling to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars in just 24 hours.
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