Although no trade happened before Tuesday’s roster cutdowns, the Green Bay Packers were one of the team interested in trading for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, per Stephen Holder of ESPN.
Holder labeled the Packers’ interest in trading for Taylor as “legitimate” and even called the Packers a “contender” for making the deal.
Taylor was not traded by the Colts or activated from the PUP list on Tuesday, so the star running back will miss at least the four games of the 2023 regular season even if he’s eventually traded before Week 1.
The Miami Dolphins were another team interested in a trade for Taylor.
Dealing for Taylor would have been a major surprise for the Packers, who have veterans Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon atop the depth chart at running back. It’s possible the Packers would have included Dillon, who is entering the final year of his contract, in a trade for Taylor. Jones’ future in Green Bay is uncertain past 2023 given his own contract.
The problem for the Packers would be dealing draft pick assets for Taylor and then also signing him to a top-of-market deal for running backs.
The Colts picked Taylor out of Wisconsin in the second round of the 2020 draft. He has 3,841 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns over 43 games and three NFL seasons.
Without a new, lucrative deal, Taylor wanted out of Indianapolis and was granted permission by the Colts to seek a trade partner. It’s possible Taylor wanted to return to Wisconsin and play for Matt LaFleur and the Packers.
Taylor rushed for 861 yards and four touchdowns over 11 games last season.
The Packers kept rookie Emanuel Wilson as the third running back on the 53-man roster on Tuesday. Wilson, an undrafted free agent, led the NFL in rushing yards during the preseason.