The Indianapolis Coltsand running back Jonathan Taylor have agreed to a two-year contract extension.
Now that the dust has settled a bit on that news, here are three quick observations about the significance of the move and Taylor's new deal.
Colts keep vital member of offense under contract for the next few years
Taylor has well-established himself as one of the game's most productive running backs. To go along with that, he provides a reliable presence that the Colts can lean on, often turning to him to shoulder a heavy workload throughout a game.
But Taylor's impact goes beyond his production. Of course, explosive runs lead to points, but his ability to churn out steady, positive gains does wonders for the Colts' offense. Having a run game to lean on keeps the offense ahead of the sticks and out of obvious passing
situations, opening the playbook for Shane Steichen, while also giving the Colts the Xs and Os advantage over the defense.
Where does Jonathan Taylor's new contract rank among RBs?
In new money, Taylor's deal averages out to $22 million per year, which puts him behind only Atlanta's Bijan Robinson in that category, according to Spotrac.
Taylor's $39 million in guaranteed money is the third-most among running backs. The $44 million in total that Taylor is set to earn ranks seventh.
Why it was important to sign Taylor to a new deal
There is a lot of potential uncertainty awaiting the Colts after the 2026 season. If the team were to miss the playoffs again, major organizational changes from the front office to the coaching staff and perhaps to the roster could be coming. So one could argue that waiting to sign any major extensions would be the prudent move.
However, ESPN's Stephen Holder brought up a good point in a post on X. Holder noted that the message that holding off on an extension for arguably the team's best player could send to the locker room could be the wrong one. "What is the impact on morale?" Holder wrote.
Regardless of what the 2027 Colts look like, Taylor is a player who can continue playing a pivotal role, and that was rewarded.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 3 takeaways from Colts' contract extension with Jonathan Taylor
