The Indianapolis Colts have been the most active team in the NFL this season, at least away from the field.
Off to a 2-5 record on the field, the Colts have made major moves to set a new course for their future by firing GM Chris Ballard and by trading cornerstones Quenton Nelson – to the Seahawks – and DeForest Buckner – to the 49ers
– for future draft assets as owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon commits to a rebuild.The obvious question after those moves was whether Irsay-Gordon might be willing to also part with the face of the franchise in running back Jonathan Taylor. After initially reporting Oct. 27 that Irsay-Gordon did not want to trade Taylor, ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter said there has been a change of heart.
"The Indianapolis Colts now
are open to trading star running back Jonathan Taylor," Schefter reported Saturday, Oct. 31. "Multiple teams have reached out to Indianapolis, and those talks are said to be active and ongoing, according to sources."
Taylor is off to an excellent start to the 2026 season with 587 yards on 140 carries in seven games. His eight rushing touchdowns are tied for the league lead, and his 83.9 yards per game rank fifth. He also has 17 catches for 178 receiving yards so far.
The former second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft has played for the Colts his entire career. In six and a half seasons in Indianapolis, Taylor has earned Pro Bowl nods three times and one first-team All-Pro recognition. Last year, Taylor ranked third in the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,963) and led the league in scrimmage touchdowns (20).
What Jonathan Taylor said about a possible trade
Taylor spoke to members of the media on Thursday, Oct. 29, and addressed some of the uncertainty that enshrouds his future in Indianapolis.
"I haven't heard anything," Taylor said. "I can't control that. Obviously, you guys know that I'm always proud to wear the horseshoe. I'm always proud to be here. ... But obviously, circumstances may cause otherwise. Hopefully that day may not come, but I can't control that."
Jonathan Taylor contract tradable despite extension
Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen said on Wednesday, Oct. 28, that Taylor, a three-time Pro Bowler and this team’s most valuable asset right now, has not requested trade – even though WR Josh Downs has and despite the departures of Buckner and Nelson, who paved so many of Taylor’s comfy rush lanes.
But Taylor could and should be very much in play – even though he signed a two-year, $44 million extension on Aug. 6. A 27-year-old back at the peak of his powers – and with a pact that runs through the 2028 season – ought to be very enticing to contenders, especially those with lackluster ground games.
Taylor is surely the Colts’ best chance of recouping the 2027 first-rounder that Ballard surrendered last November to obtain CB Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets. And given Taylor would only create a very absorbable $10 million dead cap charge in 2027 – any acquiring team would be on the hook for the $34 million in total cash he’d be owed over the course of the 2027 and ’28 seasons – moving on from him should be an enticing and realistic option for the Colts, whose next championship window almost certainly won’t align with Taylor’s.
Jonathan Taylor trade landing spot: Best fits for Colts RB
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are the NFL's last unbeaten team, but they will need to upgrade their offense to keep it that way. They rank 28th league-wide in offensive EPA per play, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats, and have relied on the solid-but-uninspiring duo of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason to lead its rushing attack this season.
Suffice it to say a three-down threat like Taylor would be a major upgrade for Minnesota's offense. His presence would allow Kevin O'Connell to shift the Vikings toward a ground-and-pound offensive mentality that would complement Brian Flores' aggressive, attacking-style defense well.
Taylor would also be a nice, long-term fit for the Vikings given his age (27) and the fact that he is under contract through the 2028 season. Jones is set to turn 32 in December while Mason, who is 27 like Taylor, will be a free agent after the season.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks and Colts already swung one deal involving the aforementioned Nelson. Could they consider another?
Seattle's rushing offense hasn't been the same in 2026 after losing Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. The Seahawks rank just 22nd in team rushing success rate, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats, with a mark of 38.8% and have seen their running backs average just 3.6 yards per carry collectively this season.
The Seahawks may be content to wait and see if the return of first-round rookie Jadarian Price and fourth-year veteran Zach Charbonnet can spark a resurgence in their running game. That said, the team's initial pursuit of Joe Mixon highlighted it isn't fully comfortable with what it has at running back, so perhaps John Schneider will be willing to pursue Taylor to improve Seattle's chances of repeating as Super Bowl champions.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos have started the 2026 NFL season with a 5-2 record despite a lackluster showing from their offense. Their running game has been particularly troublesome. They rank 30th in rush success rate this season, and primary ball-carriers J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey have combined to average 3.4 yards per carry this season.
Sean Payton may be content to see what fourth-round rookie Jonah Coleman can do in more of a lead-back role. He handled a team-high nine carries and turned them into 54 yards against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7.
But if the Broncos want to add more of a sure thing at running back, Taylor would fit the bill. He would take a lot of pressure off Bo Nix and allow the Broncos to marry a more consistent, possession-oriented offense with the team's explosive defense.
New York Giants
The Giants' running game broke out in Week 7 against the Houston Texans, as Cam Skattebo responded to his benching by racking up 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Will Skattebo's breakout be enough to earn John Harbaugh's trust long-term? Maybe, but given the success Harbaugh enjoyed with Derrick Henry in Baltimore, he can't be ruled out from pursuing a player like Taylor, especially with the Giants having the inside track toward winning the NFC East.
Taylor and Skattebo would form a fearsome one-two punch at running back and allow J.J. McCarthy to operate in the game manager role for which he is best suited. That could help the Giants make a playoff push while also positioning them to properly support Jaxson Dart in 2027 when the 2025 first-round pick returns from a season-ending knee injury.
Washington Commanders
At 1-4-1, the Commanders may not look like a big-time buyer ahead of the 2026 NFL trade deadline. Still, they could kick the tires on Taylor given their dual need for a top-tier starting running back and for playmaking support surrounding Jayden Daniels.
Pairing Daniels and Taylor together for at least a couple of seasons should be appealing for the Commanders. They could craft their offensive identity around Taylor's three-down abilities and Daniels' mobility, and adding a three-down back would mitigate the effects of losing Terry McLaurin to a torn patellar tendon.
It's also worth noting Commanders coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters are on relatively hot seats and need to start stringing some wins together to have a chance at retaining their jobs beyond this season. Adding Taylor would help them do that while also providing the team with a needed, long-term upgrade at running back.
Green Bay Packers
OK, the Packers probably won't pursue Taylor now that Josh Jacobs is back from the commissioner's exempt list. However, if Green Bay is worried about Jacobs facing an additional suspension for his offseason arrest, it could acquire an insurance option at the running back position.
Taylor would represent the high-end range for the Packers to consider, and it's fun to imagine how their offense would look with two big-time threats at the running back position. But more likely, the Packers will look to acquire a lower-priced veteran – like Tyjae Spears or Kimani Vidal – who can serve as an upgrade over MarShawn Lloyd (2.6 yards per carry) behind Jacobs.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colts change course on Jonathan Taylor trade, insider says. What to know
