There are two ways to handle the trade of a cornerstone player. One, talk quietly to a minimal number of teams. Like the Titans did with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Two, throw the doors open and try to get the best possible package of draft picks and/or players in return. Like the Colts are now doing with running back Jonathan Taylor.
Indianapolis has officially declared that Taylor is available, via a selective and strategic leak to ESPNFL. Trade talks are “active and ongoing,” per the report.
The teams that have “expressed at least some level of interest” are the Broncos, Packers, Vikings, Giants, and Seahawks.
Last weekend’s Sunday Splash! report that operated as the “everything must go” sign for the Colts pegged the Broncos, Packers, Vikings, and Seahawks as potentially interested teams in Taylor. The Giants (who are believed, we’re told by multiple sources, to have been pursuing Simmons) are a new arrival. Which would possibly be bad news for second-year running back Cam Skattebo, who emerged from the doghouse last week with 124 rushing yards. (It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Giants offered Skattebo to the Colts as part of the trade package, frankly.)
To the extent that tying four teams to the trade talks doesn’t get the Colts maximum compensation, the new report notes that the Colts “would prefer” that Taylor stick around for their “rebuild.”
If they really wanted Taylor, they wouldn’t be fielding trade offers fo him.
The Colts reportedly are looking for a package similar to what the 49ers sent to the Panthers in 2022 for running back Christian McCaffrey: a second-round pick, a third-round pick, and a fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft.
The next question is whether Taylor will play on Sunday. It’s possible, in our view, the Colts will hold Taylor out of action on Sunday at Jacksonville, like the Cardinals did three weeks ago when they had a deal in place to trade receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Texans. Even without a deal, keeping Taylor out of the game would ensure that he won’t get injured.
If that happens, rookie Seth McGowan would be the likely starter in Week 8. Last Sunday, the seventh-rounder who played for Kentucky last year had 11 carries for 48 yards in a 16-10 loss to the Vikings.
And the Vikings continue to make the most sense for Taylor. Especially since they had the best possible opportunity to scout him six days ago, when he had 18 carries for 95 yards and an Adrian Peterson-style 38-yard touchdown run.
If the Vikings add Taylor in the coming days, he’d likely make his debut as soon as next Monday night, when the Vikings host the Bills. And when they put Peterson in the team’s Ring of Honor.