Marlon Mack was once considered the top running back for the Indianapolis Colts after he posted a 1,000-yard season in 2019.
Then came an Achilles injury in 2020 that opened the door for others to shine.
Here in 2021 the Colts are now working with Mack on finding a trade to get him out of Indianapolis.
He has been bumped down the depth chart behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines, with Taylor serving as the new lead back.
This season was all about Mack proving he was healthy.
Now that he has done that, there are reportedly some top teams interested in his services.
I'm told the #Chiefs, #Panthers, #49ers &/t #Saints are among teams that made preliminary inquiries for #Colts RB Marlon Mack over the last few weeks. Any teams potentially dealing for Mack would acquire his 2021 base salary of $1M fully guaranteed (prorated), per league source.
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 21, 2021
Mack would show up well-rested and with a team-friendly deal.
It is hard for teams with running back depth problems to pass up a chance to land him.
The Teams In The Sweepstakes
The Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, and New Orleans Saints all have issues with depth at the running back position.
The NFL trade deadline is 15 days away, and with running back injuries mounting, teams are monitoring veteran RBs, including the #Bucs’ Ronald Jones and the #Colts’ Marlon Mack. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/VVQdtStajM
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 18, 2021
All four teams also have playoff dreams, meaning there is no reason to sit around and wait to make a deal.
The Panthers may be the team that needs Mack the most now that Christian McCaffrey has hit the injured reserve.
Mack’s first full season of work came in 2018 when he ran for 908 yards and nine touchdowns.
He followed that up in 2019 with 1,091 yards and eight scores.
The veteran also remains a capable threat as a receiver.
The Colts are obviously going to hold out for the best offer, but they should do right by Mack and trade him before the deadline.
It was a goodwill move in the first place to sign him to a one-year deal, as it allowed Mack to use the team facilities and return to full health.
But if they aren’t going to play him more than a few snaps a game, the goodwill can continue with a trade.
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