With the No. 41 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected running back Jonathan Taylor.
The Taylor pick was part of a strong second day of the draft for the Colts.
Taylor’s future with Indianapolis is well described by the following tweets:
Colts get a workhorse 🐴
Indianapolis drafts Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor with the No. 41 pick in the #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/tmKndVkarF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 24, 2020
You need two and now the #Colts have two: To go along with RB Marlon Mack, Indy takes at No. 41 #Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2020
The workhorse running back is going to be in an interesting tandem with top-10 NFL running back Marlon Mack.
Entering his fourth professional season, Mack will be able to teach Taylor the ropes.
Taylor, a 226-lb, 5’10” running back, was top 10 in the Heisman Trophy voting in each of his three years as a Wisconsin Badger.
He is ready to run behind two-time Pro Bowl Quenton Nelson, whom the Colts drafted No. 6 overall in 2018:
First thing new Colts RB Jonathan Taylor talks about is how excited he is to play behind Quenton Nelson. “I’ve seen him from the sidelines … he’s a beast.” Yes. Yes he is.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) April 25, 2020
The two-time First-Team All-Pro offensive guard has played in all of the Colts’ 34 regular season and playoff games in his first two seasons.
With Indianapolis’ ability to have a strong run game, the drafting of Taylor should bring the team into the upper echelon.
What The Colts Are Getting With Jonathan Taylor
In 2019, the Colts relied on Mack, as Jacoby Brissett’s arm was not able to cut it as the team’s starting quarterback.
With Rivers under center for the 2020 season, defenses will have no idea how to approach the new and improved Colts.
T.Y. Hilton, long-threat Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Pascal, Jack Doyle, and Trey Burton join Mack and Taylor as strong weapons for Rivers.
Unlike Nelson, Mack has not been able to play every game of his NFL career thus far.
Mack has missed at least two games during each of his first three seasons, so having Taylor will be very helpful in keeping Mack fresh.
Taylor may not be utilized for just that.
He was one of the nation’s best in yards after contact:
Jonathan Taylor yards AFTER contact
2017: 1,355 (1st)
2018: 1,309 (2nd)
2019: 1,257 (2nd) pic.twitter.com/g8uyw9HXHU— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) April 24, 2020
With his ability to break tackles, he was an unbelievably impressive college running back:
Most 10+ yard runs in a season since 2014:
1. Devin Singletary (2017) – 62
2. Jonathan Taylor (2019) – 61
2. Jonathan Taylor (2018) – 61
2. Jonathan Taylor (2017) – 61 pic.twitter.com/H1KNPNFlpB— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) April 24, 2020
Another reason for Taylor’s large number of long runs is his speed.
His 4.39-second 40-yard dash was the best for any running back at the 2020 NFL Combine.
What are Taylor’s Expectations for His Rookie Season?
The 21-year-old running back from Salem, New Jersey was a back-to-back Doak Walker Award winner for the best running back in college football.
The award has been given out annually since 1990.
He is just the third running back to win multiple Doak Walker Awards.
The other two are Ricky Williams (1997 and 1998) and Darren McFadden (2006 and 2007).
Taylor, who amassed more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his three collegiate seasons, will not be expected to produce that number in his rookie year.
However, he may be the second man of the Colts’ two-headed running back monster.
Nyheim Hines will be able to filter in as a pass-catching back since Rivers is a huge proponent of those types of backs.
With Taylor joining the Colts, Hines’ original role may be reduced.
Reich will have an interesting situation in his backfield.
Rivers and Reich will most likely allow for Mack to be the feature back.
Then, Taylor will find his touches by being the change-of-pace running back and by possibly lining up out wide.
There are many ways for the Colts to move up the ranks in rushing.
In 2019, Indianapolis was top 10 in rushing yards and touchdowns.
The Colts were 11th in yards per rushing attempt, and Taylor looks to help especially in that area.
