Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor requested a trade earlier this summer following comments from owner Jim Irsay.
Up until recently, the Colts had pushed back against the idea of trading the 2021 NFL rushing champion. That is no longer the case.
According to multiple media reports, Indianapolis has given Taylor permission to seek a trade. According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, general managers around the NFL were informed on Monday that Taylor is available in trade talks.
This is a dramatic change of course for Irsay and the Colts. The boisterous owner had in the past indicated that Indianapolis has no intention of trading Taylor.
While teams have been inquiring on Taylor, reports indicated that the Colts were not necessarily willing to listen.
One of the major hiccups in potential trade talks has been Taylor’s status as a free agent after the 2023 season and the fact that he wants a long-term contract. Add in Indianapolis’ perceived asking price in trade talks, and there was no previous movement on this front.
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Jonathan Taylor stats (2020-22): 3,841 rushing yards, 802 receiving yards, 36 TD
Back in 2021, Taylor led the NFL in rush attempts (332), rushing yards (1,811), total yards (2,171) and touchdowns (20).
Despite an injury-plagued 2022 campaign that saw him miss six games, Taylor is among the top backs in the NFL. If the Colts are indeed serious about listening to offers for the Pro Bowler, something will likely get done before Week 1.