The Indianapolis Colts’ fire sale could include their biggest star. According to ESPN, the Colts are now willing to trade running back Jonathan Taylor, and NBC Sports’ Mike Florio calls the talks "active and ongoing."
That’s a big change. Earlier this week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Colts were not planning to trade Taylor, and coach Shane Steichen said, "JT’s on our football team."
This is not a done deal. Here’s what we know.
Which teams are interested?
Five teams have shown at least some interest, according to the reports:
| Team | Record | Why it could make sense |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 6-0 | Unbeaten team looking for a final piece. Florio calls them the best fit. |
| Denver Broncos | 5-2 | Lead running back RJ Harvey is out this week with a knee injury |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-3 | Already traded for Quenton Nelson from the Colts |
| Green Bay Packers | 5-3 | Rank last in the NFL in rushing yards per game |
| New York Giants | 4-2-1 | New to the list this week |
What do the Colts want?
Indianapolis reportedly wants a package like the one San Francisco gave Carolina for Christian McCaffrey in 2022: a second-, third- and fourth-round pick, plus a later fifth-rounder.
The Colts have also said they’d prefer to keep Taylor for their rebuild. Florio’s view is that this could be a way to push the price up, since a team that truly wanted to keep a player wouldn’t be listening to offers.
Why now?
- The Colts are 2-5 and fired general manager Chris Ballard on Oct. 19.
- They’ve already traded Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, and receiver Josh Downs has asked for a trade.
- The Colts don’t own their 2027 first-round pick (it belongs to the Jets), so extra picks matter even more.
Unlike Nelson and Buckner, Taylor isn’t on an expiring deal. He signed a two-year extension this summer, so a new team would get him beyond this season.
What’s next
The Colts play at Jacksonville on Sunday (1:00 pm ET, CBS). The trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 4:00 pm ET. Follow every move in our NFL trade tracker and see who else could be dealt in which teams are selling.
Sources: NBC Sports / PFT, ESPN – Josh Downs and Taylor, NBC Sports / PFT – Josh Downs.
