The New York Giants entered the final stretch before the NFL trade deadline actively shopping for running back help, with Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor emerging as their preferred target.
Their interest makes sense given the current state of the position. Cam Skattebo has carried the load as the primary back, yet the room thinned considerably after Tyrone Tracy landed on injured reserve, Najee Harris was released, and Devin Singletary remained little more than a reserve option.
Adding a proven, dynamic back like Taylor would immediately upgrade both the ground game and the overall offensive ceiling heading into the final weeks of the season.
Taylor, 27, remains under contract through 2028 after signing a two-year extension with Indianapolis. This season he has rushed for 587 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
The efficiency has dipped from his peak years, though much of that can be traced to limited support from the Colts’ surrounding offense rather than any clear decline in Taylor himself.
Drafted in the second round out of Wisconsin in 2020, he exploded in his second season to lead the league with 1,811 rushing yards and 18 scores.
Injuries cost him 20 games across the 2022–2024 stretch, a lingering concern for any team evaluating him, yet he stayed healthy for all 17 contests last year.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Giants are among several clubs that have inquired, joining the Vikings, Broncos, Bengals, and Packers in checking on Taylor’s availability.
However, Schultz reported that Indianapolis’s current asking price is viewed as too high, which has complicated negotiations. Even so, sources believe a deal remains more likely than not before the deadline.
With nine days remaining before the deadline, the Colts could still lower their demands if the market fails to meet them, or they could hold firm and extract full value from one of the interested parties.
Complicating matters for New York is its limited draft capital. The Giants have already dealt away their fourth-, fifth-, and seventh-round selections in 2027, leaving them thin on future assets.
They still control their first-, second-, and third-round picks, and any package would almost certainly need to include at least one Day 2 selection to satisfy Indianapolis.
Future capital could also be included to bridge the gap. For now, the Colts appear to be seeking a substantial return, forcing the Giants and other suitors to decide how aggressively they are willing to bid.
With competition active and time dwindling, the next several days will determine whether New York can land the back it wants or must pivot elsewhere before the deadline passes.
