The Indianapolis Colts passed on trading star running back Jonathan Taylor before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, opting to retain the three-time Pro Bowler despite a flurry of trade interest from across the NFL.
The decision leaves Taylor in Indianapolis as the team navigates a significant rebuild following a 2-7 start to the season.
The organization, currently under the direction of interim general manager Ed Dodds following the firing of Chris Ballard, previously offloaded other franchise mainstays including guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The team has traded four players on expiring deals, leaving Taylor as arguably the most prominent veteran on the roster.
Sources: The #Colts had multiple offers of a 2nd-round pick and more for RB Jonathan Taylor over the last week. But the organization decided that if it ever trades him, it will be in the offseason, when more buyers could be available and a permanent GM is in place. https://t.co/FQfeeVgqSo pic.twitter.com/ulyDM9WWHF
While multiple teams inquired about Taylor, Indianapolis remained steadfast in its pursuit of a high-end return. According to reports, the Colts sought a package similar to what the San Francisco 49ers surrendered for Christian McCaffrey, which included second-, third-, and fourth-round picks.
Multiple teams reportedly offered a second-round pick and additional assets, but the Colts insisted they wanted a blockbuster offer to even consider a move. Insiders confirmed that the team held firm on wanting a first-round equivalent, a price point that interested clubs were unable to reach.
Should the #Giants go all in on #Colts RB Jonathan Taylor at the trade deadline?
Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, who sanctioned the previous departures of Nelson and Buckner, considered trade interest in Taylor from teams including the New York Giants, but ultimately chose to keep the star running back.
The New York Giants emerged as one of the most aggressive suitors, reportedly offering a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick for Taylor. That proposal was eventually pulled as the deadline approached. Analysts said that interested teams were likely deterred by the steep asking price, as the Colts never had a genuine interest in moving on from the player just to clear salary.
The Colts won’t trade star RB Jonathan Taylor by today’s deadline, sources tell @ringer @netflixsports. Multiple teams offered a second-round pick and more for Taylor. But the Colts wanted a blockbuster offer to even consider it. Instead, Taylor stays in Indy. pic.twitter.com/FH1NtHa8k6
The uncertainty surrounding the trade deadline weighed heavily on the player. Following a 27-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on November 8, which dropped the team to 2-7, Taylor appeared to bid farewell to the city. During the game, he carried 13 times for 46 yards and lost a fourth-quarter fumble.
He told reporters, “I think you play every game like it’s your last,” and expressed gratitude for the city of Indianapolis, sounding like a man packing a bag he had not been told to pack.
Taylor averages 88.8 rushing yards per game, the fifth-highest mark in NFL history behind Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, and Eric Dickerson. Through nine games played this season, he has recorded 656 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, though the Colts remain in a clear rebuild.
Taylor now faces the prospect of finishing the season on a team that is not currently a contender, potentially awaiting a new general manager to decide his long-term future.
NEW: Here’s what we know about today’s Colts trade deadline decisions: https://t.co/P1bogSY4WA
While the team’s current brain trust believes they can get more than a second and a fifth-round pick in a future deal, they face the reality of a roster in transition. For now, Taylor remains in Indianapolis, left to wonder about his future after two weeks of trade rumors that saw him receive no assurances until roughly an hour before the deadline passed.
On the Colts + the trade deadline: At THIS moment, I believe it would take a significant shift for either Jonathan Taylor or Daniel Jones to end up being traded today. This is NOT a prediction. Things can change. But this is my understanding entering the final hours.
More on Jonathan Taylor
From NFL Live: The market for #Colts RB Jonathan Taylor never materialized. pic.twitter.com/4Fc3L4lpg3
