The Patriots have a clear need for more juice on offense, and Jonathan Taylor is suddenly on the market.
According to ESPN insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, the Colts are willing to listen on their Pro Bowl running back before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. Indianapolis would prefer to keep Taylor as it works through a rebuild, and Carlie Irsay-Gordon would like to hold onto him. Still, if the right offer comes along, the Colts are open to moving him.
That puts New England in the conversation. The Patriots could use help in the run game, and Taylor would give them exactly the kind of backfield punch they’ve been missing through seven weeks. But a deal is not as simple as sending over a couple of picks and calling it a day.
Cap space is the first hurdle. The Patriots do not have much room to work with right now, though that could change if they restructure a veteran contract. Robert Spillane is one name who could be adjusted to create more flexibility.
Even then, Taylor’s contract makes things tricky. He is due $44 million over the next two seasons, which means New England would almost certainly need to send a player back to Indianapolis to make the money work. Draft picks alone would not be enough.
Two Patriots names stand out as possible trade pieces: TreVeyon Henderson and Christian Barmore.
Barmore is the more obvious big-name possibility, but it may not be the cleanest fit for the Colts. Indianapolis already moved on from DeForest Buckner, at least in part to clear the books on an expiring deal. It’s fair to wonder whether they would want to take on another interior lineman with a pricier contract and more years attached.
Henderson makes more sense for Indianapolis. He would help fill the hole Taylor leaves behind, and he is still on his rookie deal in his second season. That gives the Colts a cost-controlled back they could use right away, and if he doesn’t prove to be their lead option, they can pivot elsewhere without much pain.
The catch is that Henderson’s cheap contract doesn’t solve New England’s cap issue by itself. Taylor is due roughly $15 million more than Henderson in 2026, even after Indianapolis has already paid part of that. The Patriots would still have to create room somewhere else.
As for what it might take to actually get Taylor, the Colts are reportedly looking for a first-round pick and more. But the recent market for running backs suggests that kind of return is unlikely.
Running back trades are rare, and when star backs do move, teams usually don’t pay first-round prices. The best recent comparison is Christian McCaffrey, who went to the 49ers for a second, third, fourth, and fifth-round pick. Carolina didn’t land a first-rounder, even with McCaffrey at the height of his value.
If New England were to build an offer around Henderson, a future second-round pick, and one more Day 2 selection in the upcoming draft, that might be enough to get Indianapolis’ attention.
The problem is that the Patriots may not be the team with the best shot.
The Vikings are being heavily linked to Taylor, and they make plenty of sense. They have a strong offensive core, but their running back room is shaky.
They’re also undefeated and trying to make a playoff push after entering the season viewed as the weakest link in the loaded NFC North. Adding Taylor would be a clear sign they’re serious about going all in, especially with the defense Brian Flores has built.
Other teams in the mix include the Packers, Giants, and Broncos. All three already have running back groups that look as good as or better than New England’s, which means the Patriots may have to win a crowded bidding war if they want Taylor.
And if they can’t top Minnesota or the rest of the field, the rest doesn’t matter.
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