A few days ago, Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor asked to be traded after failing to come to terms with the team on a contract extension.
Owner Jim Irsay is adamant that he will not trade Taylor, but then again, teams almost never admit they’re willing or going to trade a player they’re actually looking to trade.
Ian Rapoport said on Tuesday that there are at least a couple of teams around the NFL that have interest in not only trading for Taylor but also in giving him a new contract.
From Inside Training Camp: The interest in #Colts RB Jonathan Taylor is building across the league, but the question is will Indy listen? pic.twitter.com/rSTMIyc24Y
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 1, 2023
This development is just the latest piece of evidence that the market for running backs in pro football has hit an all-time low.
Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs are also asking for big extensions, and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Austin Ekeler had previously asked to be traded after not being given an extension, although he has since backed off that demand.
Taylor had a down year in 2022 as he played in just 11 games and dealt with an ankle injury, but the year before he led everyone in rushing yards and touchdowns with 1,811 and 18, respectively.
2022 was a very frustrating year for the Colts, as they had to deal with not only Taylor’s injury but also the poor play of quarterback Matt Ryan, who was benched, and their struggles resulted in head coach Frank Reich being fired.
If they ultimately trade Taylor, it would trigger a rebuilding process that could ultimately last many years while enriching another team for a long time.
NEXT: Analyst Names 1 Problem In Jonathan Taylor's Trade Request
