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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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The Indianapolis Colts have already started selling off some big names ahead of the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline, but it’s going to take quite the haul to pry running back Jonathan Taylor out of Indy.
One week after owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon fired general manager Chris Ballard, Indianapolis shipped eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-rounder.
Hours later, the Colts sent three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2027 fourth-rounder.
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Naturally, that’s led to plenty of speculation about Taylor, and the Colts are reportedly now open to trading the Pro Bowler, according to multiple reports. The Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks have all reportedly expressed at least some level of interest.
However, one team has already learned just how high the price tag is.
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The Colts were reportedly offered a 2027 second-round pick plus an additional pick for Taylor and immediately turned it down, according to The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero.
“Even after trading Nelson and Buckner, the Colts aren’t in fire sale mode,” Pelissero wrote. “Taylor is only 27, he is the face of the franchise, and he just signed a two-year, $44 million contract extension in August. The Colts won’t deal him for anything other than a premium haul — and rightfully so.
“The Colts haven’t told other teams exactly what they want for Taylor, but it makes sense they’d want something close to the deal the Panthers got when they traded Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco in 2022 in exchange for 2023 second-, third-, and fourth-round picks plus a 2024 fifth-rounder.”
That’s a steep ask, but it’s not hard to understand why Indy is holding firm.
Taylor is coming off a 2025 season in which he ran for 1,585 yards and led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns. Even with the Colts’ offense sputtering during a 2-5 start, he’s tied for the league lead with eight rushing touchdowns and ranks fifth with 587 rushing yards.
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He’s also already one of the best players in franchise history. Taylor holds the Colts’ franchise record with 77 rushing touchdowns and trails only Hall of Famer Edgerrin James on the team’s all-time rushing yards list.
The Colts also have a draft-pick problem to fix. Indianapolis sent its 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to the New York Jets to acquire cornerback Sauce Gardner last November, so the Colts need to squeeze every bit of value they can out of any deal for Taylor, their best trade chip.
Taylor said Thursday that he hasn’t requested a trade, adding that he’s “always proud to wear the horseshoe” while acknowledging a move is possible.
The Vikings and Giants appear to be the early favorites, according to The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones. But unless one of them is willing to come close to the McCaffrey haul, the Colts are perfectly content to keep their best player.
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