Indianapolis Colts Make Jonathan Taylor Decision As Minnesota Vikings Show Trade Interest

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor© X/@BleacherReport

The Indianapolis Colts began moving on from important veterans, but Jonathan Taylor's future appeared to be a different story. After trading DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers and Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday, October 27, Indianapolis entered a rebuilding phase that could bring more roster changes before the November 10 trade deadline. The Minnesota Vikings were among the teams interested in Taylor, but ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported that Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon did not want to trade the star running back.

What the Indianapolis Colts decided about Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis had reasons to listen to offers. The team fell to 2-5 after a 16-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, its third straight defeat. General manager Chris Ballard had already been fired, and the franchise needed draft picks after sending its 2026 and 2027 first-round selections to the New York Jets in the Sauce Gardner trade.

Taylor remained a valuable piece for the next leadership group. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Schefter said the owner's preference was to keep him, although that position could change if an offer proved tempting.

"My understanding is that the Colts don't wanna trade Jonathan Taylor.. If I had to guess today I don't think that they will trade Jonathan Taylor" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive https://t.co/LJ7WY63hAa

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 27, 2026

“I think the owner doesn't want to trade him right now, for the record,” Schefter said.

He added that interested teams could approach the Colts with offers before the deadline. Schefter suggested Indianapolis might be holding its ground to increase Taylor's trade value rather than ruling out a deal completely.

Pat McAfee backed the argument for keeping the running back, saying the next general manager and head coach could benefit from having a player of his caliber. Taylor had continued to produce despite the team's losing record, giving Indianapolis a strong reason not to rush into a trade.

Minnesota Vikings could make an offer without a first-round pick

The Minnesota Vikings had already seen what Taylor could do up close. He recorded 95 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries against them on October 25, adding two catches for 15 yards.

A possible trade proposal from Judd Zulgad of Purple Daily offered Indianapolis a 2027 third-round pick, a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick, with a 2028 sixth-rounder available if needed. That would allow Minnesota to keep its 2027 first-round selection.

Zulgad pointed to the San Francisco 49ers' 2022 trade for Christian McCaffrey, which involved four draft picks but no first-rounder.

 Schefter warned that Taylor might not command a first-round pick himself, even with several teams interested.

Taylor's contract could complicate Indianapolis' decision. He signed a two-year, $44 million extension in August that keeps him under contract through 2028, making him more than a short-term rental for a potential buyer.

His wife, Ayanna Taylor, had openly discussed the uncertainty on TikTok, while Jonathan Taylor said he was focused on football.