INDIANAPOLIS — Several NFL teams have expressed interest in acquiring Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor ahead of the league’s Nov. 10 trade deadline, ESPN reported Thursday.
The inquiries arrive during a volatile stretch for Indianapolis. The Colts sit at 2-4 and dismissed longtime general manager Chris Ballard on Monday following a 26-20 defeat against the previously winless Tennessee Titans. Despite the outside interest, it remains uncertain whether club management is prepared to become sellers and trade away core veterans before the deadline, according to ESPN’s Stephen Holder.
Taylor shrugs off speculation ahead of Vikings matchup
Addressing reporters on Thursday, Taylor dismissed questions regarding his long-term future with the organization. The one-time All-Pro rusher emphasized that his attention remains entirely fixed on the team’s upcoming road test against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 25.
“I haven’t given any thought,” Taylor said regarding the chatter. “That’d be crazy right now, especially because we’ve got a great Minnesota Vikings team that we have to go against. I think it would be a discredit and a disservice to my teammates and this whole organization to think about what could, what should, what may be.”
Taylor, 27, has remained the central engine of the Indianapolis offense through the first six weeks. Drafted in the second round by Ballard in 2020, Taylor signed a two-year, $44 million contract extension in August. He has backed up that investment with 492 rushing yards on 122 carries and seven rushing touchdowns, which ranks tied for second across the NFL. In total, he has compiled 665 yards from scrimmage, including 15 receptions for 163 yards.
Front office shakeup sparks roster questions
The trade talk surrounding Taylor intensified immediately following the front-office overhaul initiated by Colts ownership. Ballard led football operations beginning in 2017, but the team earned only one playoff berth after quarterback Andrew Luck abruptly retired in 2019.
Colts co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon announced Ballard’s midseason exit in a statement, emphasizing that the franchise needed immediate leadership changes to restore its championship aspirations. She noted that moving on during the season was deliberate rather than delaying required adjustments.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has also surfaced as a possible name to watch on the trade market, according to ESPN. Buckner, who has notched four sacks this fall, voiced clear frustration after Sunday’s loss to Tennessee, telling reporters he was tired of recurring struggles each season.
Indianapolis currently holds second place in the AFC South standings, trailing the 4-2 Jacksonville Jaguars, whom they are slated to play next week. Facing a daunting schedule that begins Sunday in Minnesota, the Colts must soon decide whether to keep their core intact or use their valuable veterans to jump-start an extensive rebuilding campaign before the Nov. 10 deadline arrives.
