The Kansas City Chiefs’ championship window is wide open. They’ve gone all in to make sure that said window stays open after winning the Super Bowl a season ago. Jonathan Taylor’s name has been bandied about as a possibility for Kansas City after the Pro Bowl running back requested a trade from the Indianapolis Colts.
There’s a lot to look at when it comes to what’s happening with Taylor right now. The 2021 NFL rushing champion requested said trade after comments from Colts owner Jim Irsay about his running back.
Related: Love Fantasy Sports? Get Top FREE Insights From One Of The World’s Best Players Today!
Could this potentially lead to Chiefs general manager Brett Veach pulling off yet another blockbuster trade? It’s something he has not been immune from, acquiring the likes of EDGE rusher Frank Clark and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. in blockbuster trades in the not-too-distant past.
Here’s a look at why Kansas City pulling off a blockbuster trade for Taylor ahead of the 2023 NFL season getting going makes perfect sense.
A dynamic running back is a need for the Chiefs
A seventh-round pick last year, Isiah Pacheco performed well as a rookie. Unfortunately, he’s currently sidelined with a shoulder injury. While the youngster should be cleared for Week 1 of the regular season, there is little argument that Taylor would be a more dynamic back for the Chiefs.
- Jonathan Taylor stats (2020-22): 3,841 rushing yards, 5.1 average, 104 receptions, 802 yards, 4,643 total yards, 36 TD
Throughout his three-year career, the former Wisconsin standout is averaging nearly 1,550 total yards at a clip of 5.4 yards per touch.
As for Pacheco, he put up 960 total yards and five touchdowns as a rookie last season. Sure, the youngster did not take over primary ball-carrying duties until Week 10. But it’s hard to argue that Taylor is not the more dynamic back.
Related: Kansas City Chiefs standing in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings
Jonathan Taylor would be a cost-effective solution
The devaluation of the running back position in today’s NFL works two ways. As we saw with the Tony Pollard (Dallas Cowboys), Saquon Barkley (New York Giants) and Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas Raiders), teams are unwilling to dole out lucrative long-term deals to players at this position in the modern league.
The other way to look at this is that teams who actually buck the recent trend have found some success. Christian McCaffrey’s individual performance and the 49ers’ overall success after acquiring him from the Carolina Panthers is the most-recent example of this. Playoffs included the 49ers were 12-1 and averaged north of 30 points when he was the primary running back. The only exception was when he had to take snaps at quarterback during the NFC Championship Game.
It all boils down to price point for Kansas City. Taylor is not going to net the Colts a first-round pick in a trade. That’s just not happening in today’s NFL. If the Chiefs can acquire him for a package similar to what the 49ers got McCaffrey for (second-round pick, multiple mid-round selections), it makes sense.
Related: Sportsnaut’s NFL offense rankings
The Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes
Even with Kansas City ranking 20th in the NFL in rushing a season ago, Mahomes was able to put up an MVP performance. He still tallied 5,250 yards with 41 touchdowns, both leading the league. Imagine how dynamic the Chiefs’ offense would be if they are able to add Taylor to the mix.
We’re talking about a Kansas City team that has won two of the past three Super Bowls. While there’s still a lot to work out financially with star defensive tackle Chris Jones, among others, adding Taylor to the mix would be a boon. At that point, the Chiefs can talk extension with one of the game’s best all-around running backs and a player that has not yet hit his prime. It wouldn’t just be a short-term solution in Missouri.
