NFL<\/a> trade rumors are more than just offseason noise. Anthony Palacios of Last Word on Sports also pointed out that Indianapolis is on unstable ground. After moving Michael Pittman Jr. earlier this offseason and still lacking consistent offensive firepower, the Colts may be closer to a reset than a playoff run.Palacios also noted that Ballard and Steichen are on the hot seat. That\u2019s important because if Indianapolis starts 3-7 or worse, Taylor immediately becomes their most valuable trade asset. Unlike random trade rumors, this one has real leverage attached to it: contract pressure, front office uncertainty, and a star player approaching free agency.<\/p>\nContract details and salary cap implications<\/p>\n
Taylor signed a three-year, $42 million extension with Indianapolis in 2023, carrying an average annual salary of $14 million. For 2026, he is set to earn a base salary of $11.98 million while counting $15.56 million against the cap.That number means a lot. If the Colts trade him during the season, they could clear significant future money while avoiding another expensive extension. Taylor is only 27 and still performing at a high level, which means his next contract could easily push beyond $15 million annually.That\u2019s where these trade chatters become serious. For contenders like Pittsburgh or Green Bay, Taylor would not just be a rental. He would likely arrive expecting an extension, making any trade package much more aggressive.<\/p>\n
How could the trade impact both teams?<\/p>\n
For the Indianapolis Colts, moving Taylor would be a major signal that a rebuild is officially underway. It would give them draft capital, financial flexibility, and the chance to reshape the offense around younger pieces.Meanwhile, for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Taylor would give Aaron Rodgers the kind of elite run support he hasn\u2019t had in years, while easing pressure on the passing game.For Green Bay, he could serve as both insurance and a long-term replacement if Jacobs\u2019 situation worsens. Right now, Taylor remains with the Colts. But as training camp gets closer and contract talks remain unresolved, this is one of the biggest running back situations in the league to watch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NFL Trade Rumors: Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers linked to $42M Colts star amid growing uncertainty(Getty) The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":930723,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2059],"tags":[123810,1036,2005,7,345,2004,392,2381,123809,123728,6,121989,8228,57],"class_list":["post-930722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-indianapolis-colts","tag-afc-playoff-hopes","tag-caleb-williams","tag-colts","tag-football","tag-green-bay-packers","tag-indianapolis","tag-indianapolis-colts","tag-indianapoliscolts","tag-jonathan-taylor-contract-situation","tag-jonathan-taylor-trade-rumors","tag-nfl","tag-nfl-trade-candidates","tag-nfl-trade-rumors","tag-pittsburgh-steelers"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116825551584200290","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/930722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=930722"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/930722\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/930723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=930722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=930722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=930722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"NFL](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/nfl-trade-rumors-pittsburgh-steelers-and-green-bay-packers-linked-to-42m-colts-star-amid-growing-unc.jpeg\" "\\"NFL")
NFL Trade Rumors: Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers linked to $42M Colts star amid growing uncertainty(Getty) The Indianapolis Colts are entering one of the most important seasons of their current rebuild, but growing uncertainty around Jonathan Taylor has started fueling fresh NFL trade rumors. While Taylor remains one of the league\u2019s most productive backs, his contract situation and Indianapolis\u2019 shaky long-term outlook have opened the door for speculation.Taylor is entering the final year of his three-year, $42 million extension and is reportedly still seeking another deal. According to Garrett Podell of CBS Sports, Taylor could emerge as a \u201cGiannis-like\u201d trade candidate if Indianapolis struggles early in 2026. With pressure mounting on head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard, the possibility of a major roster reset cannot be ruled out.CategoryDetailsPlayer NameJonathan TaylorCurrent TeamIndianapolis ColtsRumored TeamsPittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears Contract StatusFinal year of 3-year, $42M deal 2026 Base Salary$11.98 million2026 Cap Hit $15.56 million Trade Likelihood Moderate Latest Insider Update CBS Sports\u2019 Garrett Podell named Taylor a mid-season trade candidate Potential ReturnSecond-round pick or Day 2 package <\/p>\n