Jonathan Taylor trade talk: Schefter says Colts ownership doesn't want to deal the star RB

The Indianapolis Colts made two big trades on Tuesday. Guard Quenton Nelson went to Seattle, and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner went back to San Francisco. That led to the obvious question: is running back Jonathan Taylor next?

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, probably not, at least for now. Jonathan Taylor has not been traded. Everything below is reporting and analysis, not a done deal.

What Adam Schefter said

On Tuesday’s Pat McAfee Show, Schefter said Colts ownership doesn’t want to trade Taylor before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, USA TODAY’s For The Win reported. Schefter also said that if he had to guess today, he doesn’t think the Colts will move him.

NBC Sports’ fantasy desk summed up the same report. There are still a few weeks until the deadline, it noted, and a team could still “bowl them over with an offer.” But ownership sees Taylor as a difference-maker.

Why the Colts might keep him

• Contract: According to Colts Wire, Taylor signed a two-year, $44 million extension before the season. ProFootballTalk notes that he’s under contract for two more years. That means the Colts don’t have to rush a deal.
• Next front office: The Colts fired GM Chris Ballard last week. PFT’s Mike Florio suggested Indianapolis may want to let the next general manager decide in March whether to keep or trade Taylor.
• Value to the offense: For The Win argued that a strong running game helps a lot when the quarterback situation is uncertain.
• Team view: Colts Wire cited NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who reported that the Colts see Taylor as “a big part of their franchise turnaround” and that getting him would be “pricey.”

Why a trade still can’t be ruled out

The Colts are 2-5 after Sunday’s 16-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. They also don’t have their 2027 first-round pick, which PFT says went to the Jets in the Sauce Gardner trade. A contender offering a first-rounder could change things, For The Win wrote, but that kind of offer is never a given.

Taylor would also be worth more now to a team making a playoff push than he would be in the offseason, Florio noted.

Teams linked to Taylor

These are reported interest or speculation, not confirmed talks:

The Vikings got a close look at him on Sunday. Taylor accounted for 110 of the Colts’ 218 offensive yards in that game, averaged 5.3 yards per carry and scored their only touchdown on a 38-yard run, PFT noted.

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