Who knows what the Indianapolis Colts will do next on the trade market? No doubt the offers are still coming, and the phone is ringing. And here’s the one trade the Colts must make in the final week of the 2026 NFL trade deadline after already dealing Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner.
It is clear that the Colts have tanked their 2026 NFL season. They traded away one key piece from both the offensive and defensive lines. But there’s one more trade they need to make before the deadline passes.
And it has to do with value and age.
Colts should deal RB Jonathan Taylor
An NFL team is almost certainly willing to bet on Taylor being the difference in getting to the Super Bowl this year. And that means the Colts can get inflated value for Taylor.
After dealing offensive lineman Quenton Nelson and defensive stud DeForest Buckner, the Colts are in a full rebuild mode. And trading Taylor provides an opportunity to get a player back at the same position who is much younger.
Taylor turns 28 in January. The running back expiration date is 30 for almost all heavily used players. And Taylor has 1,925 NFL touches on his body. That’s a ton of work.
It’s not that Taylor has passed his prime. He may have a couple of good seasons remaining. But because the Colts do not have a true franchise quarterback, they probably aren’t going to be playoff-competitive again until the 2028 season. And that’s only if they find the right quarterback in the 2027 draft.
Yes, this purposely ignores Daniel Jones. No franchise is giving this guy $44 million a year. Oops, the Colts already made that move. Somebody’s getting fired. Oops, that already happened to general manager Chris Ballard.
Taylor will be past his prime before the Colts are back in contention. So it makes perfect sense to trade him now, and possibly get as high as a second-round pick in return.
And they should be able to find a standout running back if they’re willing to spend that same level of capital in the upcoming draft.
Taylor deserves a chance to shine in the postseason
He has had a great career to this point. Informer NFL quarterback Nick Foles said Taylor needs an opportunity to have playoff success, according to Fox Sports. Taylor has only played in one playoff game, and that was six years ago.
“As a person who was his teammate, I would never trade him ‘cause I know just what he brings to the team as a leader and as a player,” Foles said. “But as a personnel decision maker, he’s getting older as a running back, and if you can get something super value like a high draft pick for him – you are in rebuild. You’ve already shown that. I feel like you’re going to do it.”
In fact, Foles begged the Colts to make the move.
“Please send Jonathan to a team that’s a contender,” Foles said emphatically. “Give him that opportunity, right? Like he deserves that opportunity.
“If they do, he will be dearly missed in Indianapolis because of the quality of human being, teammate, and player he is. But I can definitely see her doing it from a business perspective in this rebuild to just get some draft capital.”
What would Taylor bring to a contender?
Whoever trades for Taylor would not be getting just an elite NFL running back. They would also be getting a hungry running back. It could make a world of difference for an offensive unit.
The team that seems to make the most sense is the Packers. With Josh Jacobs injured, the team really doesn’t have a true lead running back, and the Packers are already emerging as a true Super Bowl threat.
Also in the mix are the Giants. They believe they can win the NFC East. And adding a back like Taylor could help them ward off a challenge from the Cowboys.
However, as the clock ticks down, the Colts have to be open to any deal. Even if they only get one pick, like a third-rounder. Their dream scenario is a second-rounder and a fifth. But the Colts have to fire-sale Taylor. The future is not now. Rebuild hard. Jettison Taylor.