Jonathan Taylor’s approach paid off in a BIG way. The Indianapolis Colts starting running back wasn’t eager to play out the final year of his rookie contract this season, not without a big pay raise and more long-term security.
It led to a great amount of controversy throughout training camp, especially after Taylor requested a trade, hoping to land in a situation that not only valued the All-Pro but was also ready to pay him big bucks.
With Taylor recovering from a lingering ankle injury, the Colts placed the 2021 rushing leader on the physically unable to perform list, which forced him out of action for the first four weeks of the season. Now, Taylor’s resumed practicing with the team, and he’s expected to play on Sunday in the Colts’ Week 5 battle against the Tennessee Titans. But what about Taylor’s future? What about that raise he was seeking?
The Colts finally made good on their promise to pay Taylor. Only they did so much earlier than anyone was anticipating after playing hardball to begin with.
On Saturday, the Colts agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract extension with their star running back, keeping him in town through the 2026 season. He’ll take home $26.5 million in guarantees. Taylor’s new contract pays an average annual value of $14 million per season, which makes him the third-highest-paid running back in the NFL.
Taylor’s new salary places him behind only San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey ($16M) and New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara ($15M).
Despite all the hand-wringing, when Taylor’s agent and team owner Jim Irsay went back and forth on social media, both parties found a way to set their differences aside while reaching a resolution that made everyone happy, especially the fans. Now, the Colts give their young QB Anthony Richardson a true threat in the backfield, where they hope to form one of the most potent rushing attacks in the NFL. With Richardson and Taylor locked in through 2026, the future is bright in Indianapolis.
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