Jonathan Taylor didn’t need long to understand what the Atlanta Falcons had just done for the running back market.
The Colts back was asked about Bijan Robinson’s three-year, $75 million extension, and the reaction was immediate: Taylor broke into a smile and made it clear he needed to check in with his own side. As James Boyd of The Athletic reported on X, Taylor said, "Hopefully, I gotta go talk to my agent, too.
I gotta go talk to him and see where things are at. I've been trying to just focus on getting better, making sure I'm staying in shape.
I have faith, so I’m gonna tap in and check in with him, now that you guys broke the news to me."
That response said plenty without Taylor needing to say much more. He heard the Robinson deal and instantly recognized what it meant for him.
At 27, Taylor is still in the middle of his prime and has every reason to expect one more massive payday, maybe the kind that sets the tone for the rest of his career. If he stays in Indianapolis on another contract, he’d be over 30 by the time it runs out, and that matters for a position where teams usually get cautious once a player crosses that line.
The Colts, for their part, would like to keep him around beyond this season. The challenge is fitting that kind of commitment into the cap picture. General manager Chris Ballard can make it work, but the roster already includes significant money tied up in Alec Pierce and, likely, Daniel Jones as well.
Jones is part of the larger financial puzzle too. If he struggles or the team loses confidence in his durability, the Colts could move on and clear $38 million in 2027.
Nobody in Indianapolis wants that path to become necessary. The hope is simpler: Jones plays well in 2026, stays healthy, and pushes the team into the playoffs.
Taylor’s situation, though, is the one that now feels impossible to ignore. Robinson’s contract put a fresh number on the table, and Taylor has more than earned the right to chase something similar - if not more. As the source of the conversation made clear, he probably has one call to make first.
In Other News...
Which Colts Rookies Are Already Pushing For Real Roles
Four practices into training camp, the Colts are already getting a better sense of which rookies might have a path to meaningful snaps this season. CJ Allen has settled back into his starting linebacker spot, while the rest of the first-year group has been spread across the depth chart in a way that gives the staff an early look at both immediate competition and longer-term development. AJ Haulcy is the clearest name to watch on the defensive side, as he is in the mix for a starting safety job even if his snap count has been limited so far.
Elsewhere, the rookie group is filling out a range of roles that tell their own story about camp priorities. Jalen Farmer, Bryce Boettcher, George Gumbs, Caden Curry, Seth McGowan and Deion Burks are all working in different spots, with some pressing for backup jobs and others trying to carve out rotational value. It is still early, but the Colts are already sorting through which newcomers can handle more than just developmental reps, and which ones will need more time before they force the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Took A Look At A Receiver With Something To Prove
With the Colts still sorting through a receiver room that lacks much in the way of proven depth, Chase Claypool has become the latest name to get a long look. The former Steelers and Bears wideout recently worked out for Indianapolis, adding another veteran option to a group that could use more size and experience as the team keeps evaluating ways to bolster the passing game.
Claypools path back has been a winding one. He attended the Packers' rookie minicamp on a tryout basis in May, and his career has been stalled by injuries ever since his last action in 2023. For Indianapolis, the intrigue is obvious: a player with Claypools background and physical tools can still stand out in a room where opportunity may be easier to find than in some other places. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Make Abrupt Camp Move After Young Cornerback's Injury
Training camp has already forced a shakeup in the Colts cornerback room. Indianapolis moved on from Cameron Mitchell, waiving the young defender after he was injured during camp, and brought in undrafted rookie Mekhi Rodgers following a recent workout. Mitchell had appeared in eight games for the Colts last season, so the move carries a little more weight than a routine camp transaction.
Rodgers now gets a quick path into the mix after earning his opportunity at rookie minicamp, while the Colts wait to see how Mitchells waiver process plays out. If Mitchell clears, he would land on injured reserve, but for now the bigger picture is simply that Indianapolis needed another healthy body at a spot where every practice rep matters this time of year. [Read more 🡒]