With a little more than a week left before the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline, the Jonathan Taylor chatter around Indianapolis has only gotten louder - and now there’s a clearer picture of what the Colts want in return.
After the Colts had been firm about wanting to keep their star running back, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport reported on Saturday, Oct. 31 that Indianapolis is open to moving him. Schefter then added on Sunday morning that the asking price lines up with the kind of haul the Carolina Panthers got when they sent Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers in 2022.
“In 2022, the 49ers traded second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks to the Carolina Panthers for running back Christian McCaffrey,” he said. “The Colts would seek a similar compensation package from teams looking to acquire Jonathan Taylor.”
That’s a notable shift from the early expectation that Indianapolis would demand a first-round pick. If that was ever the bar, it appears the Colts have either backed off it or recognized it wasn’t going to be met.
Taylor’s value is easy to understand. He’s an elite back, and he still has two years left on his contract after this season. That combination makes him a rare trade chip, and it’s why a McCaffrey-style package doesn’t feel out of the question.
Still, the more likely return may be a bit lighter than that. The sense is Indianapolis would probably land a second-round pick and perhaps only one Day 3 selection.
Schefter and Rapoport also reported Saturday that the Colts have already received an offer built around a second-round pick with additional compensation attached.
As for the teams involved, Schefter and Rapoport named the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants as clubs showing interest.
Each team has a different level of need. The Giants appear to have the weakest running back situation of the group, but they also look like a team that’s still too early in its build to part with major draft capital for a back. They’re more than one player away, and they won’t have quarterback Jaxson Dart for the rest of the year.
Minnesota makes plenty of sense on paper. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason haven’t given the Vikings much juice, and Taylor would give that backfield a much-needed spark.
Green Bay’s situation improved when Josh Jacobs returned last week, but his future has become murkier with more abuse allegations coming to light against him.
Denver has also taken a hit, with RJ Harvey going on injured reserve. That leaves the Broncos with J.K. Dobbins and rookie Jonah Coleman, a group that suddenly looks thinner than it did before.
Taylor would upgrade all four teams. The real question is whether the Broncos, Vikings and Packers think he’s enough of a difference-maker to justify the draft capital it would take. The Giants face the same decision, with the added reality that their roster still doesn’t look ready for a move like this.
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