(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
It seems as if the Indianapolis Colts may be about to lose their franchise player.
Star running back Jonathan Taylor asked to be traded after he wasn’t given the lucrative contract extension he asked for, and after some initial reluctance, the Colts allowed him to seek a trade.
The team’s imposed deadline passed without a deal, but the trade deadline is still months away.
GM Chris Ballard held nothing back when he talked about how bad the situation is for the organization and its fans, via Adam Schefter.
Colts GM Chris Ballard: “I’m not going to sit here and give you some rosy picture, like, ‘Oh, everything’s okay.’ It sucks for the Colts. It sucks for Jonathan Taylor. And it sucks for our fans. It just does. It’s where we’re at and we’ve got to work through it.”
Via…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2023
Taylor is one of the best at his position in the league, and as recently as 2021 he led everyone with 1,811 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.
His 2022 campaign was marred by an ankle injury, but he still mustered 861 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in 11 games.
The fact that he didn’t receive a satisfactory extension offer is the latest evidence of how much the running back market has crashed across the NFL.
Taylor’s trade demand has numerous teams interested, including the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers.
The Dolphins, who consider themselves Super Bowl contenders as presently constituted, previously struck out on star RB Dalvin Cook, and they have reportedly had talks with the Colts regarding Taylor.
Green Bay, meanwhile, could use a big name on offense after trading Aaron Rodgers during the offseason.
At age 24, Taylor should have a ton left in his tank over the next several years, and he could instantly change the fortunes of one lucky team if the price is right and if he stays healthy moving forward.
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