The Indianapolis Colts and Jonathan Taylor have reached a bit of an impasse.
Team owner Jim Irsay has made it loud and clear that he’s not going to pay him the money he wants and deserves already, and they’ve finally granted him permission to seek a trade somewhere else.
Whether any other team will be willing to meet their asking price and then pay him as much money as he wants remains to be seen.
But what’s evident is that losing Taylor could be a huge issue for Anthony Richardson’s development, or at least, that’s what NFL analyst Ed Werder of ESPN seems to think.
Trading Jonathan Taylor would represent a potentially huge setback for #Colts rookie starting quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Young quarterbacks need as much talent around them as possible. Absence of Taylor would make it easier for defense to focus on QB and expose him.— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) August 21, 2023
Per Werder, a rookie QB like Richardson needs a star running back next to him, as it helps keep rival defenses honest.
Without him, the defense will be able to focus on Richardson and expose all the flaws in his game.
Notably, there are already more than enough concerns about Richardson and his ability to make an impact right away.
He didn’t come with a lot of experience at the collegiate level, and the film showed big flaws in terms of ball placement and decision-making.
No one can deny how impressive of an athlete he is, and he’s got all the physical tools to be a two-way superstar in no time.
But the Colts need to surround him with as many talented players as they can, as young quarterbacks go through some growing pains, and given how polarizing he was throughout the whole NFL Draft process, having him struggle early in his career could derail his entire development.
NEXT: Insider Discusses If Colts Could Get A First-Round Pick For Jonathan Taylor
