The Jonathan Taylor trade watch is officially heating up.
After spending weeks sounding reluctant to deal their star running back, the Indianapolis Colts have now shifted gears and are open to moving him before the trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
“The Indianapolis Colts now are open to trading star running back Jonathan Taylor, sources told ESPN and NFL Network,” Schefter and Rapoport wrote on Saturday morning.
They also reported that “multiple teams have reached out to Indianapolis, and those talks are said to be active and ongoing, according to sources.”
That kind of language usually means this is more than just background noise. A deal could come together quickly, possibly after this weekend, though nothing has been confirmed yet.
The Colts’ change in approach makes plenty of sense. With a rebuild coming, they’re at least a few years from being back in the mix, and Taylor’s value may be as high as it’s going to get. If Indianapolis is going to cash in, now is the time.
Schefter and Rapoport said five teams have “expressed at least some level of interest” in Taylor: the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks.
“The list of teams that have expressed at least some level of interest in trading for Taylor so far is thought to include the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks, sources said,” the insiders reported.
Each team has a different level of need, but Taylor would be a major upgrade anywhere he goes. Denver already has RJ Harvey, J.K.
Dobbins and Jonah Coleman in the backfield, though none bring Taylor’s talent. The Giants may have the clearest opening, with Cam Skattebo and little else behind him.
Minnesota’s group, led by Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, also leaves plenty to be desired.
Green Bay recently got Josh Jacobs back, but his outlook is now murky after more allegations of abuse, according to ESPN. Seattle, meanwhile, already made a big move with the Colts for Quenton Nelson and could use help at running back even with Jadarian Price set to return from injury.
Wherever Taylor ends up, the former rushing champion would immediately change the look of that backfield.
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