National reporting has now named five NFL teams as potential trade partners for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. Coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday that Taylor has not requested a trade.
“Those are hypothetical things right now,” Steichen said. “I know there’s stuff floating around out there, but JT’s on our football team.”
The Colts fell to 2-5 with a 16-10 loss at the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, their third straight defeat. Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon fired general manager Chris Ballard on Oct. 19.
Assistant general manager Ed Dodds made two deals Tuesday. Guard Quenton Nelson went to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner returned to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2027 fourth-rounder.
Taylor said last week that he had not given a trade any thought. Over the weekend, his wife, Ayanna, posted social media videos discussing the chance of one.
“I think it’s been out there already, so I think her adding [to it] doesn’t really change anything,” Taylor said after Sunday’s loss. “Everybody’s on TikTok these days. So, you just have to come into work and stay focused.”
Adam Schefter of ESPN and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Green Bay Packers, Seahawks, Denver Broncos and Vikings have weighed a Taylor trade or are expected to.
A day earlier, Jonathan Jones of The Athletic reported, citing sources, that the New York Giants and Vikings would be interested if Indianapolis made Taylor available. On Wednesday, Stephen Holder of ESPN reported that multiple teams have expressed interest.
On price, Jordan Raanan of ESPN wrote Tuesday that sources who had placed Nelson’s value at a second- or third-round pick expected Taylor to cost a second-rounder and possibly more.
Taylor has run for 587 yards and eight touchdowns on 140 carries this season. In Minnesota, he gained 95 yards on 18 carries, including a 38-yard run for the Colts’ only touchdown. Indianapolis finished with 218 yards of offense, and 110 of them were Taylor’s.
Taylor ran for 1,585 yards in 2025. His 18 rushing touchdowns led the NFL, and one of them moved him past Edgerrin James for the Colts’ career record.
Unlike Nelson and Buckner, Taylor is under contract through 2028. He signed a two-year, $44 million extension Aug. 6 that includes $39 million guaranteed.
A trade would leave the Colts with $10 million in dead money in 2027, Dan Graziano of ESPN reported. Taylor’s $16.02 million salary that year turns fully guaranteed five days after the Super Bowl.
Indianapolis sent its 2027 first-round pick to the New York Jets last November in the trade for cornerback Sauce Gardner. For 2027, the Colts now hold one second-round pick, two thirds and two fourths.
Two games remain before the Nov. 10 deadline at 4 p.m. ET: Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at the Jacksonville Jaguars, then Nov. 8 at home against the Dallas Cowboys.
