It’s fun to think the Cincinnati Bengals might make another blockbuster trade, this time for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.
Those Colts have started the fire sale of all fire sales. They started blowing up an era of Colts football by trading away Quenton Nelson, then moved defensive lineman DeForest Buckner.
All speculation says Taylor is next. But from a Bengals perspective, what the Colts got back for those traded players matters.
Those Colts only got a fourth-round pick for Buckner. For an eight-time Pro Bowler like Nelson, they only got a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.
That would seem like “steals” to some. But with Taylor, ESPN'sJordan Raanan reports that the Colts want a second-round pick and possibly
more.
Taylor playing in a Joe Burrow offense would be fun, no doubt. But they’re unlikely to match that steep of a price for a running back who has a cap number of $21 million in 2027 and $23 million in 2028. They have to account for Dexter Lawrence’s cashflow while also hoping to iron out massive contract extensions for names like Amarius Mims and DJ Turner soon.
Adding to this, the Bengals haven’t been brought up by anyone credible when talking about teams that might want Taylor. There’s a better chance they go after another Colts player, such as the following:
- DL Grover Stewart
- WR Josh Downs
Running back remains a pretty big problem for the Bengals. But the move will need to balance the now and future better. Think, trading for Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans on his expiring contract, instead.
Blockbusters are fun. The Bengals did one with Lawrence. But unless the “price” on Taylor nosedives to match the other Colts trades so far, it’s a no-go in Cincinnati.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: How Colts trades impact Bengals deadline plans, Jonathan Taylor buzz
