Jonathan Taylor is planning to leave Indianapolis after a talk in his owner’s bus.
According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the All-Pro running back sought a trade after speaking with Jim Irsay on the team bus during Saturday’s training camp session.
Taylor, who is presently on the physically unable to perform list, wants a contract extension that would place him on par with the league’s highest-paid running backs, according to Rapoport, but the Colts have yet to make a contract offer.
Following the discussion, Irsay informed reporters that the organisation is still not contemplating an extension for Taylor, and subsequently told Albert Breer that he was not dealing the Pro Bowler.
“We’re not trading Jonathan… that’s the end of the discussion,” Irsay texted Breer. “Not now, and certainly not in October!”
With 3,841 running yards, 33 touchdowns, and an average of 5.1 yards per carry in his career, the 2021 rushing champion is Indianapolis’ most productive offensive weapon. In addition, he has 104 catches for 802 yards and three touchdowns in the passing game.
Taylor’s desire for a change of scenery comes in the last year of his rookie contract, when the value of running backs looks to have peaked. It’s also worth noting that he informed Irsay he wants to be traded only days after the owner entered himself into the RB market and stated no contract negotiations had taken place between Taylor and the organisation.
An offseason that saw Miles Sanders become the highest-paid free agent runner with an annual salary of only $6.4 million, and three stars — Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard — receive the franchise tag after failing to sign a long-term deal by the July 17 deadline, culminated in a recent Zoom call between the best at the position to discuss the depressed market.
According to ESPN, Najee Harris then said on Wednesday that he and his fellow backs discussed alternatives that included modifying the franchise tag so that it is not applied based on position, thereby levelling the playing field.
“NFL running back situation — We have negotiated a CBA, that took years of effort and hard work and compromise in good faith by both sides,” Irsay said on social media Wednesday evening. It is wrong to argue today that a certain player type wants further negotiation after the fact. Some agents promote ‘bad faith.’”
Malki Kawa, Taylor’s agent, said, “Bad faith is not paying your top offensive player.”
When questioned about Taylor’s contract status on NFL Network’s Back Together Weekend seconds before Rapoport’s story, new head coach Shane Steichen gave a by-the-numbers answer.
“That’s part of the business, and my job is to be the head football coach of this team and to go lead these guys,” he said.
The owner was significantly more brazen during the scrum in which Irsay stood hard on not presently discussing an extension.
“I mean, if I die tonight and Jonathan Taylor’s out of the league, no one’s going to miss us,” he told reporters. “The league continues. We are aware of this. The National Football (League) continues to play. It makes no difference who comes and leaves, and it’s an honour to be a part of it. Now is the time for us to go to work. As an organisation, now is the moment. And, you know, players between the ages of 24 and 25, now is the time to grasp the opportunity.”
This specific moment might play out in a variety of ways in the next month.
If Indy grants Taylor’s request before the season, the club will have to reorganise with Zack Moss, Deon Jackson, Jake Funk, and potentially another experienced free agency in the backfield. A trade may offer a club in transition with some potential draught ammunition, but the windfall would have to be worth it, which could be tricky given the seeming devaluation of running backs.
The Colts could also sit tight and force the 2021 running champion to play out his rookie contract, which would undoubtedly help rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson’s learning curve.
There are several months before a more drawn-out scenario like that would play out – and plenty of time for the predicament of RBs around the league to worsen.
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