Jonathan Taylor, the Colts’ three-time Pro Bowl running back, ain’t going anywhere. At the 2026 NFL trade deadline, Indianapolis slammed the door shut on multiple offers, including packages stacked with second-round picks and more. You heard that right: the Colts actually turned down deals comparable to what the 49ers gave up for Christian McCaffrey back in 2022. That deal for McCaffrey, who was 26 at the time, was insane: a 2023 second-round pick, a 2023 third, a 2023 fourth, and a 2024 fifth. So, why’d Indy refuse that kind of haul for their 27-year-old superstar? Turns out, the Emerald City has a role in their stubbornness.
The Colts’ Ridiculous Demands and That Seahawks Deal
The word from Tom Pelissero is that Indy wouldn’t even pick up the phone unless it was ringing with a first-round pick offer. A first-rounder, for a running back! In today’s NFL, that’s just wild, right? But here’s the kicker: the Colts are apparently “overcompensating” because they felt they got fleeced in another trade. Remember when our own Seattle Seahawks scooped up Quenton Nelson from them? Indianapolis only got a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick for him. Yeah, the Colts are apparently still stewing about that, and they weren’t about to make another “mistake” by not getting top dollar for Taylor. Plus, they don’t even have their own 2027 first-round pick, having shipped it off to the Jets last year for Sauce Gardner. They were desperate to fix that hole.
Jonathan Taylor’s Unmatched Value (And That Sweet Contract)
Honestly, it’s hard to blame the Colts *too* much for wanting a king’s ransom when you look at Taylor’s resume. The dude is one of the best running backs of his generation. He’s averaging 88.8 rushing yards per game in his career, which puts him fifth in NFL history. Fifth! Think about that for a second. He’s right up there with some absolute legends:
* Jim Brown: 104.3 YPG
* Barry Sanders: 99.8 YPG
* Terrell Davis: 97.5 YPG
* Eric Dickerson: 90.8 YPG
* Jonathan Taylor: 88.8 YPG
* Walter Payton: 88.0 YPG
The running back market might be tricky, but Indy also locked Taylor down on a sweet deal before the 2026 season started: a two-year, $44 million extension with $39 million guaranteed. That’s a great value for the production he gives you. He’s tied up through the 2028 season, through the rest of his twenties. The best part for them, though? There’s no guaranteed money left on the deal in 2027 or 2028, making it super flexible. They could still move him later if they really wanted to, or keep him around to anchor their offense for whoever they bring in to replace Daniel Jones at quarterback next year.
So, for now, Jonathan Taylor stays put in Indianapolis. The Colts rolled the dice, demanded a first-round pick, and ultimately decided to hang onto one of the league’s most productive backs. They made it clear that after the Quenton Nelson trade, they weren’t settling for anything less than a king’s ransom. This move shows how much they believe in Taylor and how desperate they are to not repeat past “mistakes” in valuing their talent.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply