Which teams could trade for Jonathan Taylor now that he is leaving the Colts?
The Indianapolis Colts gave their estranged running back Jonathan Taylor the green light to seek trades, and teams will be lining up to bring in the star.
It has become the story of the preseason. A star running back that led the league in rushing touchdowns two years ago is at odds with the franchise that drafted him three years ago. Jonathan Taylor is in the midst of a stick holdout and has now been granted permission to seek a trade out of Indianapolis.
Taylor set to make $4.3 million in Indy next year
It wasn’t too long ago that Taylor was in talks for the Offense MVP of the league. It was his second year in the league, and after getting selected in the second round of the 2020 Draft Taylor had a meteoric rise to stardom after his rookie season.
Last season he missed a good chunk of games due an ankle injury, but despite being sidelined for seven games he still ran for 861 yards and four TDs. Taylor has shown how good he can be when he is healthy and believes that he should be compensated like one of the league’s best running backs despite having a year left on his contract.
The Colts are less enthusiastic about coughing up the amount of money that Taylor would be expecting as one of the best backs in the league. He is set to make $4.3 million with the Colts next season if nothing changes from here to the start of the season.
Contenders circling in on Taylor
It seems like both parties are at a crossroads, and after asking for a trade that was initially denied, the Colts gave him permission to seek a trade on Monday.
There are reports out of Indy that the Colts are looking for a first round pick in return for the former Wisconsin Badger. The teams that have emerged as the favorites to land Taylor are all contenders and if he goes to any of these teams he will immediately improve that team’s chances or lifting the Lombardi Trophy come February.
Minnesota Vikings
There would be no one more equipped to fill the vacancy Dalvin Cook left in Minnesota’s backfield than Jonathan Taylor. They already have a high powered offense led by Kirk Cousins, and Justin Jefferson is maybe the best wide receiver in football. If Taylor joins forced up north, the Vikings will be up there with the Eagles and Niners as early contenders for the NFC title.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles came up just short of lifting the Lombardi Trophy in February, and now look to take the next step to win their second Super Bowl title in franchise history. D’Andre Swift is listed as the RB1 after Miles Sanders’ departure, but Philly could make a move for Taylor which woud fortify their roster even more.
Washington Commanders
After the watching the Commanders on Monday night, a couple things became quite clear. First of all, Sam Howell looks like he’ll be starting for the Ron Rivera’s side in Week 1. Number two is they don’t have a running back that has proved he can carry the burden of getting RB1 type rushes all season. A star running back can be a young QB’s best friend. It takes some of the weight and responsibility off the shoulders of the quarterback when you can hand the ball off and move down the field.
Miami Dolphins
When Tua Tagovailoa was healthy at the early part of last season, it looked like the Dolphins were on the path to Super Bowl glory. They could not be stopped with Jalen Waddle and Tyreek Hill at WR, but adding a certified star at running back would take some of the burden off Tua and bring a little balance to the offense.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens offensive system is in the midst of a make over as the new offensive coordinator in town, Todd Monken, looks to air it out this season. Even though the philosophy is changing, a running back like Taylor, paired with Lamar Jackson in the backfield could make Baltimore one of the most dangerous offenses in the league.