Star running backs in the NFL have made a lot of headlines lately, with the majority, if not all of these running backs, feeling as if they are no longer valued the same way when it comes to contracts and getting long-term job security.
Elite backs Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs recently made some noise when they were unable to secure long-term deals with their respective teams, even though they are in the conversation for the league’s best player at the position.
Barkley ultimately signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants with incentives that could make him as much as $13 million next season, but Jacobs has refused to join the Las Vegas Raiders in training camp due to his dispute, leaving the prospect of him sitting out the 2023 NFL season as possible.
Now Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts is making headlines after he told his team that he wants to be traded, prompting team owner Jim Irsay to deny the request immediately.
Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd believes the Colts shouldn’t panic about the Taylor situation because rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson will help shoulder the load in the run game next season via The Herd with Colin Cowherd.
"Why do they need to give Jonathan Taylor an extension? Anthony Richardson is going to gobble up 20-25% of his rushing yards."
— @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/Vpp5gIcRO7
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) July 31, 2023
Although Cowherd is not entirely wrong with this take, Richardson will undoubtedly do some damage in the ground game due to being the next great versatile athlete at the quarterback position, but Taylor is among the elite class at his position.
An unhappy Taylor could lead to some poor production next season for the Colts, which could bleed over into the locker room, creating a less-than-stellar atmosphere in Indianapolis.
NEXT: Colts Announce Anthony Richardson Underwent Procedure
