Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor wants out, and while the front office may not want to trade the star player away, they would be wise to listen to offers.
However, those offers may not be what the Colts are looking for in terms of compensation, which means the two sides are likely heading toward a standstill.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, some general managers around the league see the running back market declining even more following the 2023 season, which would be a problem for Taylor and his camp.
I’ve asked a few GMs about Jonathan Taylor’s trade value, and it sounds minimal for many reasons: Most notably, it’s a one-year rental. As one GM noted, next year’s RB market is going to be saturated. No team is likely to do a long-term deal now when RB value could keep dropping.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) July 30, 2023
Though owner Jim Irsay said the Colts are not trading Taylor, the NFL is unpredictable. The Colts would be wise to listen to offers, but pulling the trigger on a deal that doesn’t match Taylor’s value would be a waste of time.
Consequently, other teams aren’t going to pay a premium for a one-year rental who is coming off an offseason procedure that currently has him on the PUP list.
Gone are the days of trading first-round picks for running backs. The Colts, at best, would hope for a deal like the one that sent Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers to the San Francisco 49ers last fall. In that trade, the Panthers received second-, third- and fourth-round picks in 2023 and a fifth-round pick in 2024.
The team trading for Taylor also likely will have to work out a contract extension, which has been the root of the issue this entire time.
The problem for Taylor is that the Colts have the leverage. Sure, his talents would be greatly missed. But because he’s under contract, the team can fine him $40,000 per day for every unexcused absence if he decides to hold out, according to the collective bargaining agreement. Any player who has unexcused missed mandatory meetings or practices is subject to a maximum fine of $14,650.
This doesn’t apply to the situation right now as he’s on the PUP list. But once he’s activated, a holdout or hold-in would be costly for Taylor.
There is no denying that Taylor is a great running back, a fantastic teammate and a wonderful person. But the running back market is crashing, and there may not be an end in sight to this dilemma unless something changes from either side.