For many fans, the reaction to a report that multiple teams are interested in Taylor might be something along the lines of “well, obviously.”
Taylor has long been one of the NFL’s top running backs, best all-around players, and a legitimate dual-threat. He currently ranks seventh in the NFL with 655 scrimmage yards and is tied for sixth with seven combined rushing and receiving touchdowns. He’s managed to thrive in a largely one-dimensional Colts offense that ranks 22nd in passing and 22nd in total yards.
In other words, Taylor is a legitimate difference-maker whose addition could transform a team’s offensive identity—not wholly unlike the Kansas City Chiefs’ offseason addition of Kenneth Walker III. Of course, there are other factors to consider in addition to Taylor’s on-field ability.
For one, Taylor isn’t clamoring for a change of scenery.
“I think it would be a discredit and a disservice to my teammates and this whole organization to think about what could, what should, what may be,” Taylor said, per Holder.
Secondly, Taylor is under contract through 2029 and is set to see his base salary balloon to $15 million next season. While he’s not necessarily old at 27, he’s seen a good amount of wear and tear at the NFL level (1,875 touches in 90 regular-season games).
Additionally, any team acquiring Taylor would likely need to pay a hefty price tag.
Theoretically, he could be obtained as a short-term rental and released or dealt again before next year’s pay bump—the prorated portion of this year’s $7 million base salary would be reasonable, even for teams without a cap surplus. The Colts, though, won’t value Taylor the same way.
Taylor has been the centerpiece of Indy’s offense for several years, and moving him would cost the Colts $10 million in dead money next year.
The Colts will probably demand a first-round pick to begin negotiations, though a conditional second-rounder might be enough to get a deal done. Alternatively, a package of multiple Day 2 picks similar to the one the Carolina Panthers got for Christian McCaffrey in 2022 (2023 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-round picks, plus a 2024 5th-rounder) might suffice.
The McCaffrey trade is a reasonable comp, as he is a similarly skilled player and was 26 at the time of the trade.