5 Best Landing Spots for Colts RB Jonathan Taylor
While the 2023 NFL regular season is less than 17 days away, the news cycle has been all about Jonathan Taylor over the past few weeks. The Indianapolis Colts’ star running back has requested a trade after owner Jim Irsay refused to neonate a long-term contract. Taylor is entering the final year of his rookie deal.
At first, Irsay refused to consider trading away the superstar running back. However, he has reportedly changed his mind. The Colts have given Taylor permission to seek a trade. Reportedly there are multiple teams in the mix.
While some have argued that trading for a running back and paying them is a horrible idea, the former Wisconsin star is one of the top 2-3 running backs in the NFL. Taylor has averaged 5.1 yards per rushing attempt in his NFL career despite playing a regressing offensive line.
The former Wisconsin star had 232 rushing attempts for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns in his rookie season. That year Taylor was the RB6, averaging 15.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The following season he became a fantasy superstar.
Taylor had 332 rushing attempts for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021, leading the NFL in all three categories. Furthermore, he was the RB1, averaging 20.8 fantasy points per game.
Unfortunately, the superstar running back had a disappointing 2022 season. He was the RB34, averaging 12 fantasy points per game after missing six contests and leaving others early with multiple ankle injuries. Yet, Taylor still had a solid year, finishing 11th in opportunity share (68.8%), seventh in route participation (56.7%), and 29th in breakaway runs (seven) despite playing on an injured ankle.
Everyone knows the superstar running back is an elite player and fantasy asset when healthy. However, where will he play this season? Let’s look at five possible landing spots for Taylor.
Indianapolis Colts
The superstar running back will likely be a Colt in 2023. Irsay is the craziest owner in the NFL. Therefore, no one should be surprised if he ends up killing any potential trade deal over the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the team has all the leverage over Taylor. The former Wisconsin star is under contract and doesn’t have the option to sit out the year like Josh Jacobs.
However, Taylor could use his off-season ankle surgery to sit out part or most of the year. While that won’t help fantasy players or the Colts, it will protect the superstar from getting hurt again. Furthermore, he can make himself more trouble than he’s worth by sitting out with an “injured ankle.” Indianapolis can place the franchise tag on Taylor this upcoming offseason. Yet, they likely won’t if the running back shows he’s willing to play a game of chicken with Irsay.
Miami Dolphins
While it seems unlikely that the superstar running back will get traded, the most likely landing spot outside of Indianapolis is Miami. The Dolphins believe they are Super Bowl contenders. However, giving Tua Tagovailoa a superstar running back would make them even better. More importantly, the team has a history of making splashy trades.
The Dolphins have made several trades involving first-round draft picks over the past several years. They got multiple first-round picks from the Houston Texans for Laremy Tunsil. Miami traded the Philadelphia Eagles a first-round pick to move up for Jaylen Waddle. The team also gave up a first-round selection for Tyreek Hill and another for Bradley Chubb over the past 18 months. Therefore, would anyone be surprised if the Dolphins traded the Colts their 2024 first-round pick for Taylor?
Buffalo Bills
Reportedly the Bills are one of the teams interested in trading for the superstar running back. Buffalo has lacked an elite running game for years. Furthermore, the team has repeatedly talked about taking away rushing attempts from Josh Allen to preserve his long-term health. While the Bills added Damien Harris and Latavius Murray this offseason, that won’t stop them from adding the former Wisconsin star.
However, Buffalo lacks the cap space needed to sign Taylor to a long-term contract. Therefore a trade is unlikely, as any team that acquires the superstar running back won’t give up a first-round draft pick for a one-year rental. Furthermore, the team has high hopes for James Cook after a disappointing rookie season. While the idea of Allen, Taylor, and Stefon Diggs playing together is nice, it likely won’t happen.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are another team reportedly interested in the former Wisconsin star running back. David Tepper is an aggressive owner, as Carolina traded up for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Taylor would be an excellent addition for Bryce Young’s development. Having the superstar running back to lean on would take pressure off the rookie quarterback.
Unfortunately, the Panthers are an unlikely landing spot for Taylor. They don’t have a first-round pick until 2025 because of the Young trade. Furthermore, Carolina signed Miles Sanders to a four-year contract this offseason to be their featured running back. While Taylor would be a clear-cut upgrade over Sanders, can the Panthers afford to pay both running backs, especially with limited draft capital over the next two years? That’s likely not going to work.
Kansas City Chiefs
While the Chiefs aren’t one of the teams reportedly interested in the superstar running, how much fun would it be to see Taylor play alongside Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce? Kansas City could have picked the former Wisconsin star during the 2020 NFL Draft. However, they took Clyde Edwards-Helaire instead. Unfortunately, a massive issue stands in the way of Taylor joining the Chiefs.
Kansas City doesn’t have much cap space to work with. Superstar defensive lineman Chris Jones is entering the final year of his contract and hasn’t reported to training camp. While those two sides struggle to get a long-term deal done, it does create an intriguing scenario. The Chiefs could use Jones as a trade chip to acquire Taylor. Whether they send the superstar defensive lineman to Indianapolis or another team, he could be all the capital the team needs to acquire the superstar running back.
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