The escalating drama between the Colts and Jonathan Taylor certainly qualifies as one of the defining storylines during an important year for the running back position. Taylor remains out of Colts practice and has requested a trade.
As of Tuesday, the Colts are against trading the former rushing champion. A recent report also indicated a robust market should not be expected to form, as several backs — including some who have also expressed frustration about their present situations — are on track to hit free agency in 2024. Taylor is as well, though the franchise tag is a play the Colts can make. Would another team force the Colts’ hand early?
Interest is, however, expected to exist for Taylor, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). Adding on that point, Rapoport indicates multiple teams are expected to call the Colts to see how resolute they are in not trading the 2021 All-Pro. No resolution between Taylor and the Colts appears close.
The former second-round pick is going into a contract year and doing so at a bad time for the running back market. But Taylor is only going into his age-24 season. Prime years should remain for the Wisconsin alum, who finished second in the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year voting. Although a team that trades for Taylor would have the option of franchise-tagging him in 2024, Rapoport adds multiple clubs are believed to be open to giving him a real contract. That would presumably mean a deal north of $12MM per year, though it is not known how high prospective suitors would be willing to go.
No team has authorized a running back deal beyond the $13MM-AAV point since the Saints reupped Alvin Kamara in August 2020. The Vikings cut bait on their $12.6MM-per-year Dalvin Cook deal this offseason, while the Bengals and Packers trimmed their $12MM-per-year backs’ pay for 2023. The salary cap has risen by nearly $30MM since the Kamara and Christian McCaffrey deals, however, and will make another climb in 2024.
Taylor voiced frustration about the market after Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard were not paid, and his issues with the Colts have escalated since. That said, ESPN’s Stephen Holder adds that the contract-year back has been at odds with the organization for a while (Twitter link). The Colts have not made an offer, with Jim Irsay — whose previous comments about the RB position added more fuel to this fire — publicly indicating as such.
Since the Taylor drama became known, the Colts have lost Zack Moss to a broken arm. They traded Nyheim Hines last season. Fifth-round rookie Evan Hull and veteran Deon Jackson reside as the top available options currently, though a few notable free agents — Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt — remain beyond Cook. The ex-Viking’s connections remain to the AFC East at this point.
Colts are not trading him. They don’t have much RB depth and he’s still on a rookie deal contract and then have the franchise tag available. Taylor may not like it, but it is what it is. He can always choose a new line of work
Is that what you do when you aren’t getting paid? Choose a different line or work?? I’ll bet you don’t
I did. I hated my job. Quit. Found a new job. On top of that, by pointing out that I found a new line of work, I’ve completely disproven your claim. I’m 100% satisfied.
Yep,you quit your multi-million dollar a year job and took one that pays $100K a year, right?
You moved the goalposts. Stand by your rhetoric. Don’t change your claim.
Were you a NFL RB making millions that quit your job and changed careers? I don’t think so. Let’s get back into reality.
” Is that what YOU do when YOU aren’t getting paid? Choose a different line or work?? I’ll bet YOU don’t ”
LOL what a loser. stand by your comments, or admit you were wrong, you didnt say anything about NFL RB, you attacked him personally with you, you, you. then got called out and want to keep changing the details.
I changed my career to a different field and moved halfway across the country if you want better pay then make choices to facilitate that.
Well, Taylor is trying to move halfway across the country for better pay. Just saying.
This argument is kind of nullified when he is factually getting paid.
Not the amount he wants but he’s getting paid.
The performance of Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are way more important to the position than people are talking about yet. If they do well at all, this RB contract collusion only gets worse.
What collusion? Players get paid based on value. The RB position does not have the value they once did. 20 years ago they did and they were paid. 20 years ago QB’s weren’t making crazy contracts as they are today. CB’s weren’t making what they make today. The game has changed and position values have shifted with it.
So stop with the collusion crap. No one forces them to play in the NFL. If they are unhappy… they have the right to change professions
Every single article I read about this year’s draft said the same thing about Atlanta & Detroit. Both teams used valuable draft picks for a non-important decision. Both 1st rounders by Detroit actually was stated non-stop.
When the teams and media say the same thing, it’s not collusion.
Someone was going to take Bijan and Gibbs in the first round, hard to pass on talent. I think the Lions needed Gibbs more than the Falcons needed Bijan imo.
I like what the lions did in the first 3 rounds. They got some really good young talent at the positions they needed.
I liked the Lions draft as well. And I don’t think any position on O or D should be ‘off limits’ in the draft. The Bills would be much better off if they had a sincere running game to balance out their offense.
It isn’t exactly collusion, but it is far from a free market where their value is being fairly determined. Both Barkley and Jacobs were tagged, and Taylor almost assuredly will be if the Colts don’t trade him. A team can retain the rights to a RB dirt cheap for the bulk of their prime years, use them up… and when they’re able to get a free agent deal, no one is able to get enough money to push the franchise tag value for RBs forward. It’s a broken system.
How many CBA negotiations have there been where players complained about the franchise tag yet it exists? When the players wanted free agency in the 80s they held out for a bunch of the season. If the players wanted it gone they would negotiate it gone.
Appalachian – RB’s career expectation is less than 5 years; where most other positions are closer to 10. If you have a rookie deal for 5 years (1st round) or 4 years (2nd round), why would you risk a long term contract on a RB when it’s not just possible, but probable that he won’t last through the deal & you’re left with dead money or guarantees after the player is gone.
They voted on the CBA and the system they’ve got.
Irsay said he will not trade him but whichever team doesn’t land Dalvin Cook could potentially be in the market for JT. The last thing the Colts need is a divided locker room, could be better to move on rather than hold on.
‘…Rapoport adds multiple clubs are believed to be open to giving him a real contract.”
A real contract? Guaranteed tag deals with $10M this year and $12M next year aren’t real contracts?
Anybody really think another team would pay Taylor more than his current franchise tag value – in addition to the picks they’d need to cough up to acquire him? I sure don’t given how hard it has been for Cook, Hunt, and Elliott to land jobs.
True that fellas. Let’s burn one.
I saw your comment after I put mine out.
Agree 100 percent. The logic just doesn’t add up for a trade.
From what i have read, yes there are teams willing to do exactly that, trade for him and give him a big contract. I have heard Ravens and Bears Source SI.com. Also from Ian Rappaport ” I know a couple [teams] at least who are planning to call the Colts just to gauge where they are.” just sayin there is a team out there that would be willing, IMO.
I guess we will see.
“Reports” and “rumors” are not always true.
Teams may call, but a true, earnest and sincere offer that makes sense for both teams seems like a very big stretch in the current climate.
Im very skeptical any real interest exists beyond surface level inquiries.
We saw this with Ekeler. We are still seeing this with the free agent RBs. We even saw this with Barkley last year.
If there is interest, it not going to be a value trade for a team to trade a quality draft pick and the give in to his demands for a large paycheck.
I strongly suspect the “interest” is reported by one side or the other as negotiation tactics, and most likely isn’t real.
Nobody wants to take on somebody else’s problems. I’m “shocked” that this rumor comes out today that there’s a lot of interest in trading for Jonathan Taylor, okay maybe that might be true, I doubt it. Because who wants to A) give up a draft pick then give up a ton of money and then deal with a guy who looks like he’s behaving poorly. Like nobody just volunteers and says, “I’ll take all of your problems over here!” They got enough of their own.
I suspect therapists in America make a small fortune taking on someone else’s problems and much of the Al Davis legend is based on his ability to successfully deal with misfits and malcontents from other NFL teams.
Yeah and how has that worked out for him and his son recently pal? “Just win baby!” Sure as hell haven’t been doing that since 02’.
Other teams – “Hey, let’s trade for the Man-Baby who won’t honor his contract. Yeah, that’s the ticket, a malcontent who would rather stay home than play for 18 million dollars.”
Fans- Slapping their hands to their forehead, ” Why, why why?”
Teams are showing interest…
Article names no team who has shown interest. Weird how that works.
There’s GM’s out there who would trade a fifth for his rights and Jonathan Taylor’s fat contract. Money and picks don’t go well together in the salary cap epoch.