Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor wants a trade, and it sounds like it’s only a matter of time before the former All-Pro gets his wish. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, six teams have inquired about a potential trade, and two teams have actually made an offer. Colts owner Jim Irsay reportedly wants a first-round pick or equivalent for Taylor’s services, and apparently, there are teams willing to meet that price.
Now, as of this posting, we do not know which teams specifically are interested in a Jonathan Taylor trade. However, we can make some educated guesses as to which teams might want to pull the trigger. Irsay has allegedly given a deadline of Tuesday, August 29th for a potential trade, so assuming these reports are true, Jonathan Taylor has less than one week remaining in his Indianapolis Colts tenure.
Who Are the 6 Teams Trying to Trade For Jonathan Taylor?
The Obvious Suitors
Based on Schefter’s report, it sounds like there are two teams that are far more serious than everyone else when it comes to a Jonathan Taylor trade. Again, we do not know who these teams are, but intuitively, the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles make the most sense. From the outside looking in, both teams are trying to compete for a Super Bowl right now and could desperately use some reinforcements at running back.
The Miami Dolphins spent the majority of their offseason linked to former Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. However, Cook eventually chose to sign with the New York Jets, leaving Miami with the underwhelming trio of Jeff Wilson, Raheem Mostert, and Devon Achane in the backfield. None of these players profile as true three-down backs, and running back is one of the few weaknesses on Miami’s win-now roster.
The Philadelphia Eagles, meanwhile, might have the most complete team in the league. Armed with talent at just about every position, the team can afford to spend up on a luxury position like running back. Miles Sanders averaged over five yards per carry while running alongside Jalen Hurts, so just imagine what an elite talent like Jonathan Taylor could do.
Dark Horse Jonathan Taylor Trade Destinations
The Dolphins and Eagles are probably the two teams making offers, but that still leaves us with at least four other teams that have expressed interest.
Looking around the league, the Kansas City Chiefs are a team that probably did their due diligence. Andy Reid has historically preferred a true three-down running back, but Isiah Pacheco isn’t capable of handling that workload. While the fit makes plenty of sense in a vacuum, one must wonder if a pass-obsessed offense like Kansas City would really devote that many resources to a running back.
The Baltimore Ravens certainly would, as the right running back would be nearly unstoppable alongside Lamar Jackson. J.K. Dobbins is currently set to start, but he is also looking for a new contract. Perhaps the Ravens and Colts could swap their disgruntled runners and use those two as a basis for a Jonathan Taylor trade.
The New Orleans Saints have Alvin Kamara, but the former third-round pick is not the elite force he once was. Kamara showed signs of slowing down over the past two seasons and is facing a three-game suspension to start the year. Perhaps the Saints decide to trade for Jonathan Taylor, create a dominant one-two punch in 2023, and move on from Kamara in 2024.
Last but certainly not least is the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen’s team is nearing the end of its Super Bowl window with the current core of players, so the team should do everything they can to win it all in 2023. James Cook showed some signs of promise as a rookie, but a Jonathan Taylor trade would dramatically improve the backfield. Taylor’s physical style of running pairs well with Buffalo’s freezing climate, and his ability in short-yardage situations means that Josh Allen won’t have to take quite as many hits.
Main Photo: Jeffrey Becker – USA Today Sports
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