The Colts’ front-office reset has put Jonathan Taylor right back at the center of the conversation.
Indianapolis already made its commitment in August, locking up Taylor on a two-year, $44 million extension that includes $39 million guaranteed and can reach $47 million. The deal runs through the 2028 season, and it was a clear signal that the organization viewed him as a foundational piece.
That makes Monday’s shakeup even more complicated. After Chris Ballard was fired, the question shifts from whether Taylor deserves to be paid to whether the next regime will want to keep building with him in place.
CBS Sports’ Carter Bahns raised the possibility of Taylor becoming a trade candidate, even floating Minnesota as a fit.
"With general manager Chris Ballard fired and coach Shane Steichen potentially on his way out the door, too, this franchise could be headed toward a tear-down," Bahns wrote. "Teams will call about Taylor. Minnesota needs to make sure it is in the conversation."
There’s a strong case for Indianapolis to ignore that noise and hold onto him. Taylor just delivered one of the best seasons of his career, rushing for 1,585 yards and a league-leading 18 touchdowns in 2025 while earning his third Pro Bowl nod.
Still, the decision now belongs to a new voice. The next general manager will have to decide whether Taylor is part of the answer or part of the reset.
Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s message on Monday made the team’s expectations plain: compete, improve and win. That leaves the Colts with a straightforward but weighty choice - use Taylor as an anchor for the next era, or consider whether moving him helps set up the roster differently.
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