The Jonathan Taylor saga appears to be coming to an end soon. This is after the Indianapolis Colts reportedly allowed the All-Pro running back permission to seek a trade amid his offseason contract dispute with the team. By the looks of it, we’ve all already seen Taylor play his last game in a Colts uniform.
Colts Name Their Price for Jonathan Taylor
NFL insider Adam Schefter broke the news on Monday, reporting that the Colts have decided to allow the 24-year-old to speak with opposing teams ahead of what could be a blockbuster trade for the Pro Bowl RB:
“Colts have given All-Pro RB Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade, per league sources. Other teams now are weighing whether to make an offer to the Colts and what would be fair value,” Schefter wrote in his tweet.
Stephen Holder of ESPN then followed up Schefter’s report with an update pertaining to what type of trade package the Colts will be asking for in exchange for Taylor:
“Source: The Colts are seeking a first-round pick — or package of picks that equates to as much — in a potential Jonathan Taylor trade,” Holder wrote.
That’s going to be quite a price to pay for any team that could be interested in acquiring the services of the former Offensive Player of the Year, but at the same time, there’s no denying that Jonathan Taylor is the type of player that could be a game-changer for his new squad.
It was in July that Taylor requested a trade away from the Colts after failing to negotiate the terms of a potential contract extension. It took Indianapolis some time, but they eventually gave in to Taylor’s demand. However, Adam Schefter also reported that any team that wants the former Wisconsin standout on their squad will need to pay a hefty price:
“I don’t think they would trade him just to trade him,” Schefter said (h/t Scott Polaceck of Bleacher Report). “They’re going to be looking for a significant offer.”
Given what the Colts are looking for, it’s very much possible that this saga will drag on a while longer. However, considering what Taylor brings to the table, it also wouldn’t be surprising if a blockbuster trade is announced in the near future. Whatever the case might be, the biggest takeaway here is that Jonathan Taylor now has one foot out the door in Indianapolis.
