Just recently, on Saturday, July 29th, Indianapolis Colts’ star running back Jonathan Taylor requested a trade after meeting with owner Jim Irsay. This comes on the heels of contract disputes with Taylor and many of RBs across the league, who are upset about the deflated market. Irsay also dug himself in a bit of a hole, calling it “inappropriate” for RBs and their agents to want to negotiate higher pay. He also said that, “If I die tonight and Jonathan Taylor is out of the league, no one’s gonna miss us. The league goes on. We know that. The National Football [League] rolls on. It doesn’t matter who comes and who goes, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”
For someone Irsay claims nobody will miss, it sure seems like the Colts will, as he has already announced that he will not fulfill Taylor’s request. Although RBs often wear down faster and are more easily replaceable in the NFL, Taylor is still a young star. He was the leading rusher in 2021 with 1,811 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns. On the Colts this year, he would be the offense’s focal point with rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson at the helm. Unless a new contract is offered, a potential holdout could be seen, not just with Taylor but with other RBs seeking new deals as well, like Las Vegas Raiders’ Josh Jacobs.
Although a trade does not seem imminent anytime soon, let’s discuss some possible destinations for JT.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have already been linked to many backs this offseason, including free agent Dalvin Cook. They already have an extremely explosive offense with receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but the RB room is up in the air. It features Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson returning from last season and third-round rookie Devon Achane. Jonathan Taylor could make Miami’s offense lethal, providing a great one-two punch with Achane’s speed.
New York Jets
The Jets look to be going all out this season after acquiring future HOF quarterback Aaron Rodgers. They have young weapons on both the offense and defense. RB Breece Hall looked great as a rookie last season before tearing his ACL, and the Jets have already looked at adding another back by hosting Dalvin Cook. Taylor would be more explosive though, and give the Jets a very potent offense while Hall recovers.
Buffalo Bills
Yet another AFC East team. The Bills are not a run-heavy team, but Taylor can help them take the next step forward and provide more balance to the offense. His former Colts teammate Nyheim Hines is now out for the season, and the Bills are only left with James Cook, who is relatively unproven but has a lot of camp buzz, and Damien Harris. Taylor would be a significant upgrade, and Cook could still come in to relieve him for passing down work. In a tough division, the AFC East teams need all the firepower they can get.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens seem to struggle with injuries every year. At RB, J.K. Dobbins is on the PUP list to open camp, still recovering from his last knee injuries. With his injury history, Taylor would make a lot of sense for the Ravens, taking the strain off QB Lamar Jackson and giving them a better shot to compete in a tougher AFC North division.
Kansas City Chiefs
Teams could always improve, and the recent Super Bowl Champion Chiefs could use an offensive upgrade to stay atop the NFL. In the 2020 draft, Kansas City needed a running back and elected to take LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire over Jonathan Taylor. “CEH” has struggled to consistently produce in the NFL, being overtaken by seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco last season. Pacheco is now recovering from two off-season surgeries to repair a broken hand and torn labrum. If Taylor becomes available, the Chiefs have a chance to right a wrong from 2020 and take their offense to the next level.
Fantasy Impact
The Colts will likely be a run-first team, with or without Taylor. Losing him shouldn’t affect the receiver’s outlook much, with Michael Pittman being the only target worth a redraft pick. Losing Taylor would likely open up more opportunities for rookie QB Anthony Richardson. Richardson has a good build, is extremely athletic, and showcases his elite running ability at Florida. Without Taylor, he’ll likely get more QB-specific runs drawn up for him. He’s a great QB to have in dynasty and worth a shot in redraft, but as a QB2.
If Taylor is traded, there’s a decent chance the Colts could get an RB in return, but either way, it will likely be a committee approach, similar to last season during the games Taylor was out with injuries. Zach Moss will be the main back, with Deon Jackson coming in more for relief and passing downs. The Colts did add fifth-round rookie Evan Hull this year, though. The Northwestern product is a strong runner with the ability to line up in the slot and run routes as well. He has had a good camp so far and with his receiving ability, provides great upside in PPR leagues. He’s worth keeping an eye on in the camp reports and could be a late-round flyer in redraft, and should absolutely be stashed in dynasty. Even if Taylor returns, Hull has a great chance to earn snaps in the coming years.
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