Jonathan Taylor‘s long-simmering dispute with Jim Irsay and the Indianapolis Colts has come to a head.
The Colts on Monday night reportedly agreed to Taylor‘s trade request, effectively making the star running back available less than a month before the 2023 NFL season kicks off.
What the Colts want in return
Colts owner Irsay previously had been reluctant to make Taylor available in a trade. But as the former All-Pro — a player who led the NFL in rushing yards two seasons ago — is seeking a top-of-the-market contract extension, and Irsay has been unsupportive of the growing movement to renegotiate the league’s collective bargaining agreement to give running backs higher salaries.
“We’re not trading Jonathan…end of discussion,” Irsay said last month.
But the situation has clearly changed, and Indianapolis is now expected to ask for the equivalent of a king’s ransom for Taylor, who missed several games last season with an ankle injury and finished with 861 rushing yards.
Will Taylor receive a lucrative extension?
The Miami Dolphins missed out on signing Dalvin Cook in free agency and could now be enticed to pursue a deal for Taylor, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract and might have designs on becoming the only running back with a $20 million per year contract.
Indianapolis is turning the keys to the franchise to rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, who has already been named the team’s starting quarterback as it enters a transitional phase. A strong return for Taylor could kickstart the Colts‘ rebuild, but it’s likely the asking price will have to come down, or Taylor will have to quickly reach an agreement on an extension with another franchise.
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