After initial reports pegged the Colts as more likely to retain Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis’ deadline fire sale appears set to include the All-Pro running back. A handful of teams are on the radar, creating what should be a nice return for the team.
The Giants and Vikings have been mentioned as lead options for Taylor, who has also been connected to the Packers — who have seen more Josh Jacobs trouble arise — along with the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos and Seahawks. While it is believed the Colts received an offer of a second-round pick and more, a GM told Casino Guru News’ Jason La Canfora the team would probably move him for a second. It could then come down to projected draft slots, as Indy would naturally want the highest possible pick in Round 2 — with the team lacking its first-round pick.
Although a **Christian McCaffrey**-like package has been mentioned as a goal here, it has never seemed likely the Colts could fetch that kind of haul for Taylor. McCaffrey has been a more dynamic player and was both younger and fresher, Carolina injuries notwithstanding, at the time of the October 2022 trade. The 49ers sent the Panthers second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks for McCaffrey that year, beating out the Rams and Bills.
This many teams being connected to Taylor does not necessarily mean the Colts have a handful of offers, but we have heard a second-rounder mentioned enough that it is safe to assume that will be the floor here. Taylor, 27, is signed to a two-year, $44MM extension. That deal does not feature a fully guaranteed 2027 salary ($15MM) until February 19. This would give a team options, but if a club is keen on trading a second for the seventh-year running back, it would stand to reason the player would be in its plans beyond 2026.
An exec mentioned the Broncos to La Canfora, and Denver has been aggressive in trading high picks under GM George Paton. The Broncos traded two first-rounders and two seconds for Russell Wilson and included first- and second-rounders in their Sean Payton package (which brought back a third). Denver then traded its 2026 first for Jaylen Waddle.
Considering Jonah Coleman’s play as of late, it would come as a slight surprise if the team forked over a second-rounder for Taylor. RJ Harvey is on IR, but no report of his knee injury being season-ending has emerged. The asking price points to the Broncos standing down, per the Denver Post’s Troy Renck, though he expects the team to monitor this market.
Carlie Irsay-Gordon is being described as “motivated to move” on the trade market. The team appears likely to trade Taylor and other parts, with a high-ranking exec informing La Canfora the team “wants to move a corner.” The Colts have veterans Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward rostered. Both should be considered in play, though Gardner’s injury issues since arriving in Indianapolis would create a sell-low circumstance here.
Gardner, 25, wants to stay with the Colts. His monster contract (four years, $120.4MM) will not be easy to move. It features a $24.95MM guarantee in 2027, and Indy would take on more than $45MM in dead money if it traded Gardner this year. That would be a defender-record figure, and it is quite possibly untenable — even for a rebuilding team.
Ward is 30 and considered retirement this offseason, after suffering three concussions in 2025. He is tied to a three-year, $54MM deal that is paying out a $12.98MM base salary this season. Although no Ward money is guaranteed in 2027, the Colts may need to pay some of his ’26 salary — which has roughly $7MM remaining — to facilitate reasonable compensation.
Josh Downs has asked for a trade. Clubs were already asking the Colts about Downs before his trade request, The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero notes. Downs is in the final season of his third-round rookie deal, profiling as a rental (whereas Brian Thomas Jr. has two years left on his first-round pact). Keenan Allen also profiles as a natural trade chip, as the six-time Pro Bowler is 34 and on a $1.3MM base salary.