The trade of Jonathan Taylor from the Indianapolis Colts did not occur on Tuesday as sources informed ESPN that the team did not receive a satisfactory offer that aligned with their valuation of the All-Pro running back.
As of now, since no trade transpired on Tuesday, Jonathan Taylor remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Consequently, he won’t be able to participate in the first four games of the upcoming season. The list of games he will miss includes matchups against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Houston Texans, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Los Angeles Rams.
Looking ahead, the Colts might explore the possibility of trading Taylor prior to the NFL’s trade deadline on October 31. In the event that no deal materializes by then, the Colts could consider using the franchise tag on Taylor with the intention of revisiting trade discussions in the next offseason.
The Colts adopted an unconventional strategy in their efforts to facilitate a trade for Taylor. Last week, they permitted Taylor and his representatives to engage with other teams in order to identify potential trade partners. The Colts established a 4 p.m. deadline. on Tuesday for a trade to be completed. This timeline aligned with the NFL’s requirement for teams to reduce their rosters from 90 to 53 players. This deadline also marked the point at which the Colts needed to determine Taylor’s roster status. Until now, he had been placed on the active/physically unable to perform list. Taylor’s absence from practice and the preseason stemmed from his recovery following ankle surgery.
The current situation with Taylor and the Colts reflects back to a decision made in May, wherein the team chose not to offer him a contract extension. This decision was made as Taylor entered the final year of his rookie deal. Despite leading the NFL in rushing yards in 2021 with over 1,800 yards, Taylor encountered challenges with his ankle’s health last season. He anticipated a contract extension similar to those received by his teammates Shaquille Leonard and Quenton Nelson. When it became evident that the team was not reconsidering its stance and observing the financial terms for other top-tier running backs like Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley, Taylor opted to take a firm stance.
As training camp approached, General Manager Chris Ballard was asked about Taylor’s contract. His response was, “We’ll make those decisions when we need to make those decisions.” Subsequently, on the same day, Taylor privately expressed his desire for a trade. While the Miami Dolphins expressed interest in Taylor, the Colts’ initial compensation request, which sought a first-round draft pick in exchange, deterred other teams in the league.
In Taylor’s absence, the Colts’ running back corps consists of Zack Moss and Deon Jackson, both veterans, along with rookie Evan Hull. Moss, who is in the process of recovering from a broken arm sustained during training camp, has never achieved more than 481 rushing yards in a single season. Jackson’s highest rushing yardage in a season, achieved last year, is 236 yards. Among several other position players, the Colts also released veteran Kenyan Drake on the previous Sunday.
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