Colts Keep Jonathan Taylor, Rejecting Second-Round Offers
Indianapolis required a first-round pick to trade its star running back, citing the need to correct a previous draft capital loss.
By Harvey Wilson ·
The Indianapolis Colts retained running back Jonathan Taylor through the 2026 NFL trade deadline. The team turned down multiple offers that included second-round draft picks, according to reporter Tom Pelissero. Indianapolis indicated that it would only move Taylor in exchange for a first-round selection.
The decision contrasts with the 2022 trade in which the San Francisco 49ers acquired Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers. The 49ers sent a 2023 second-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick, a 2023 fourth-round pick, and a 2024 fifth-round pick to Carolina for the then 26-year-old. The Colts determined that similar packages were insufficient for Taylor, who is 27.
Internal factors at Indianapolis influenced the team's high valuation. The Colts traded their 2027 first-round pick to the New York Jets a year ago to secure cornerback Sauce Gardner. Additionally, the team received only a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick from the Seattle Seahawks when it traded offensive tackle Quenton Nelson. The franchise viewed the rejection of lower-tier offers as a method to balance its draft board.
Taylor’s statistical profile also supported the Colts' stance. He ranks fifth in NFL history for average rushing yards per game, with a career average of 88.8. The team viewed this production level as warranting a premium in a trade.
Financial terms locked into place before the 2026 season also shaped the strategy. The Colts signed Taylor to a two-year, $44 million extension with $39 million in guaranteed money. This contract secures Taylor through the 2028 season. No guaranteed money remains on the deal for the 2027 or 2028 seasons, which provides flexibility for the team to trade him later or retain him while replacing quarterback Daniel Jones.
The trade deadline on Tuesday afternoon passed without a transaction. Taylor remains on the Colts roster, where he will play alongside a quarterback staff that is currently evaluating replacements for Jones.
