The Colts will assemble a crowded backfield next season. Trading up from No. 44 to No. 41 with Cleveland, Indianapolis selected Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor.
In the deal, the Browns will slide down three spots and pick up a fifth-round selection (No. 160). The Colts, meanwhile, will pair Taylor with incumbent Marlon Mack.
While Mack and Taylor figure to be the headliners in a strong Indianapolis backfield next season, the Colts also have 2018 draftees Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines on their team. The Taylor investment does somewhat cloud Mack’s future with the franchise. Mack is one of many talented 2017 running back draftees going into contract years. With Taylor on board, it would seem less likely the Colts are preparing to pay up to keep Mack.
As for Taylor, the longtime Badgers back possesses sprinter speed totaled a staggering 6,174 rushing yards in three seasons. Taylor’s worst season among those featured 1,977 yards. He posted back-to-back 2,000-yard campaigns in 2018 and ’19. Taylor, who scored 55 touchdowns in college, will play behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines in Indianapolis.
Weird trade up
I thought it was a weird pick. He’s a stud but not a real weak position. Feels like Reich maybe pushed it and Ballard gave in.
Mack is entering a contract year so the position could become a need as soon as next year. Mack also got hurt last year. Rivers is great but the better the running game, the less he has to carry the team like he had to for so many years with the Chargers.
Ballard is running the draft room. Not Reich so there’s not “giving in.” Reich isn’t that kind of coach and Ballard has proved he knows how to draft.
The logically explanation is that had this guy graded really high and were surprised he was still there so they decided it was worth moving up. He may have even been graded higher than Pittman Jr. but WR was such a glaring need they went that direction first. This is an unusually flashy pick for Ballard and company, but in my opinion, this was the back RB in the draft by a significant margin. Fantastic pick.
Yeah!