Jonathan Taylor Trade Speculation Grows After Colts Deal Quenton Nelson And DeForest Buckner

Jonathan Taylor Trade Talk Grows As Colts Move Veterans© Instagram

Jonathan Taylor is a Colt after a Tuesday that sent Quenton Nelson to Seattle and DeForest Buckner back to San Francisco. Whether he stays one has become the next question around Indianapolis, although the latest reporting offers a reason to slow down the predictions. ESPN's Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show that Colts ownership does not want to trade Taylor. Indianapolis is 2-5, but its running back remains under contract through 2028 after signing an extension two months ago.

Colts Ownership Wants To Keep Taylor Despite Other Deals

Nelson and Buckner were both approaching free agency. Taylor's situation is different: the Colts agreed to a two-year, $44 million extension with him in August, giving them control beyond this season.

Schefter said owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon wants to retain him, while allowing that another team could still try to change Indianapolis' position before the November 10 deadline.

That has not quieted the discussion. Reporter Connor Hughes wrote on X that, in his opinion, Taylor could follow Nelson out of Indianapolis. Trey Wingo also suggested that moving the guard made a Taylor trade easier to imagine.

Those were assessments of the Colts' direction, rather than reports of an agreed deal.

The departures have brought back three picks. Seattle sent a 2027 third-rounder and a 2028 fifth-rounder for Nelson; San Francisco gave up a 2027 fourth-round pick for Buckner.

Indianapolis no longer owns its 2027 first-round selection following the Sauce Gardner trade. That shortage gives the front office a reason to consider offers, even for players it would prefer to keep.

Taylor Keeps Producing While Questions Follow Indianapolis

Taylor rushed for 95 yards on 18 carries against Minnesota, including a 38-yard touchdown, in Sunday's 16-10 loss. He has 587 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns through seven games.

The score extended his franchise record to 77 rushing touchdowns. At 27, he remains productive enough to help a contender, which explains why his name keeps resurfacing.

ESPN previously identified Green Bay, Seattle, Denver and Minnesota as teams that had considered, or were expected to consider, pursuing him. That reporting did not establish that Indianapolis had accepted an offer from any of them.

Taylor had little interest in discussing a possible departure when asked last week.

“I haven't given it any thought,” he said. Chris Ballard, the general manager who drafted him in 2020, has since been dismissed. Ed Dodds and the remaining front office have two games left before the deadline: Jacksonville on Sunday, then Dallas on November 8.