The Indianapolis Colts made somewhat of a surprising move during the second round of the 2020 NFL draft by trading up for running back Jonathan Taylor out of Wisconsin.
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Though it is a luxury pick, the fit within the offense and his likely immediate impact cannot be ignored. Taylor’s size, speed and power are a menacing trio that will work wonderfully behind the Colts’ elite offensive line.
Despite the likelihood of sharing the backfield with Marlon Mack, the explosive rookie has the fourth-highest odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, per BetMGM.
Fellow second-round pick and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has 50/1 odds to win the award.
Taylor comes from an offense well-versed in running the football. He can fit any blocking scheme, whether it be power or zone. Seeing as the Colts run a nice combination of both, he’s a strong fit in the backfield.
Taylor has a good shot to win the award. Mack will certainly impede his immediate contributions given the timeshare, but Taylor’s explosiveness and durability could give him the edge over some of the other rookies. Not to mention, he’s in an offense projected to be one of the top units in the NFL.
Of course, it all comes down to how much of a timeshare it will be with the Colts. Mack is in a contract year and could very well hit the open market following the 2020 season, but this 1-2 punch should be fun to watch.
Who knows, maybe it ends with Taylor receiving some hardware at the end of the campaign.
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