The Jonathan Taylor trade chatter is getting louder, and two NFC teams keep popping up at the center of it.
Ahead of the weekend, it was reported that Indianapolis Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon "would need a significant haul to part with" the star running back before the NFL trade deadline arrives on Nov. 10.
That came after Indianapolis had already picked up future draft assets for eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner last week. But the picture shifted again after the Colts were hammered 42-7 by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, a loss that dropped them to 2-6.
By Monday morning, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated had added a fresh layer to the situation. According to Breer, the 4-2-1 New York Giants and 6-1 Minnesota Vikings "have been most aggressive in looking for running backs on the trade market the last couple weeks."
For the Giants, the timing is interesting. One October report suggested head coach John Harbaugh could be looking to upgrade the backfield through an in-season trade.
Then Cam Skattebo answered with a strong performance, rushing for a team-high 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in New York's 27-21 overtime win at the Houston Texans on Oct. 25.
Whether that outing changed Harbaugh’s thinking is still unclear.
New York’s next test comes Nov. 8 at a struggling Philadelphia Eagles team that is also 2-6.
Minnesota’s case looks different. The Vikings have gotten by with Kyler Murray at quarterback, but the offense has not exactly been humming.
ESPN stats had Minnesota ranked 29th in the league with 279.4 yards per game and 27th with 20 points per game entering Monday. Even so, the defense looks built to carry a serious run, which is why a bold move for Taylor would make sense for the NFC North club.
There’s also the price tag. In a Casino.org story published Monday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora said an unnamed general manager told him "he believes the Colts want a second-round (draft) pick for Taylor."
"I expect him to be traded," La Canfora added about Taylor.
Whether that prediction comes true - and whether it’s the Giants, Vikings or another team that gets involved - should become clear over the next week.
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Vikings Quarterback Frustration Just Put A Bigger Move In Play
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Daniel Jones has emerged as the name to watch in that conversation, especially with Indianapolis in a rebuilding phase and open to reshaping its roster. For Minnesota, the appeal is obvious: if the frustration with quarterback play is real enough, the front office may be forced to think bigger than a single skill-position upgrade, even if the timing and market for such a move are still very much in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Taylor Trade Talk Just Put The Colts On The Spot
Minnesotas first loss of the season has only sharpened the conversation around how this offense wants to win when the passing game is not carrying the load. The Vikings have looked dangerous enough to keep the pressure on opponents, but the debate now is whether they need a more reliable rushing presence to round out the attack and give the offense a clearer identity.
That is why the trade chatter around Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor has started to feel more than hypothetical, even if nothing official is in place. Any serious pursuit would come with real hurdles, from the cost in draft capital to the cap math needed to make it work, and those are the kinds of obstacles that can stall a splashy idea before it ever reaches the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Suddenly Have A Much Bigger Offensive Debate Than Expected
Minnesotas first loss of the season did not knock it off the top of the NFC North, but it did sharpen the conversation around an offense that has been lagging behind the rest of the roster. At 6-1, the Vikings still have one of the leagues best defenses under Brian Flores, yet the attack has been stuck near the bottom of the NFL in both total offense and touchdowns, a jarring split for a team built to contend.
The result is a much bigger quarterback debate than anyone expected this early in the year, with outside chatter already turning to whether Minnesota should explore a major move to stabilize the position. The timing makes the discussion even more intriguing because the answer could reshape the rest of the season, and the Vikings now have to decide whether to trust the current setup or start thinking more aggressively about a proven veteran option. [Read more 🡒]