Analysis
7/29/23
3 min read
Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor Requests Trade
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor requested a trade on Saturday, NFL media reported. The 2021 First-Team All-Pro's desire to leave came to light after a meeting with team owner Jim Irsay in Irsay's bus following practice earlier in the day.
However, Irsay made it clear the Colts are not interested in trading Taylor, telling Sports Illustrated: "We’re not trading Jonathan… end of discussion. Not now and not in October!”
>> READ: Fantasy Impact of a Taylor Trade
Taylor, a 2020 second-round draft pick, will play the 2023 NFL season on the final year of his four-year rookie contract with no extension in place.
The decline of the NFL running back market complicated Taylor's ongoing extension negotiations. The cases of Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs — each of whom had the franchise tag placed on them — this offseason brought the decline to light, perhaps more so than ever before.
Barkley signed a one-year deal to return to the New York Giants, while Jacobs, the NFL's leading rusher in 2022, did not report to Las Vegas Raiders' camp when it opened Tuesday.
>> READ: Understanding Saquon Barkley's Deal
While players have been vocal about contract offers (or lack thereof) during the offseason, Irsay has been vocal in his defense of the current NFL running back market.
On Wednesday, Irsay tweeted, "NFL Running Back situation - We have negotiated a CBA, that took years of effort and hard work and compromise in good faith by both sides..to say now that a specific Player category wants another negotiation after the fact, is inappropriate. Some Agents are selling ‘bad faith’.."
Irsay's comment came in the wake of a Zoom meeting among star running backs to discuss the declining value of their position on the open market, called by Los Angeles Chargers back Austin Ekeler.
“Irsay knows what’s coming next year, and with the quarterback situation in Indianapolis, I think they need Taylor to run the football," said Dave Wannstedt, an analyst for the 33rd Team, "But there will always be someone willing to take a player like Taylor and pay him.”
In three seasons, Taylor gained 4,643 yards from scrimmage and added 36 total touchdowns. In 2021, he racked up 2,171 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns on his way to finishing second in Offensive Player of the Year voting.
Despite Taylor's accolades and production, Irsay told reporters the Colts are not currently interested in negotiating with their star running back. Speaking to reporters after meeting with Taylor, Irsay insisted a contract extension for the running back was not the team's current priority.
"At this point, that's not something that we're discussing right now," Irsay said. "This isn't a comment that has to do with Jonathan Taylor's situation. It's what my responsibilities are. I'm responsible for everyone on the team and to look at the cap money that you have and to look at contracts as you go forward."
Taylor could find himself the next in a line of talented running backs unable to find a team willing to meet his contract expectations.
