The drama between the Indianapolis Colts and star running back Jonathan Taylor continues. And while it might be hard to understand why Taylor is holding out in this tough market at the position, he seems to have an ally in former NFL back Maurice Jones-Drew.
Amid contract disputes, Taylor has requested a trade out of Indianapolis. So far, the Colts have not obliged and could potentially place the running back on the non-football injury list, according to Mike Chappell of FOX59 and CBS4 Sports.
On NFL Network’s NFL Total Access, Jones-Drew talked about Taylor’s situation. It’s a predicament he knows all too well.
“Listen, I’ve been there before. Held out in 2012, I demanded a trade … and when people sent their requests or their trade picks and players, the Jags said no. So, I understand where Jonathan Taylor is sitting,” Jones-Drew said.
“This is the thing, you gotta go out there and you gotta produce in this situation. You want a contract, I get it, the game is not favorable to running backs right now and their value. But you’re the one who’s going to change everything. You’re the key. … If you go out there and have a great year, then you can demand what you want.”
If that happens, the Colts could potentially withhold Taylor’s salary for the upcoming season. So, there’s at least some level of incentive for the running back to play this year.
Taylor battled injury during the 2022 season, appearing in 11 games for the Colts. He finished the year with 861 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
In 2021, Taylor’s second year in the league, the former Wisconsin star produced at an incredibly high level. He rushed for 1,811 yards and scored 18 touchdowns on the ground. The running back also had 360 receiving yards and two scores on 40 receptions.
Without question, Taylor has proven to be a capable running back throughout the early part of his NFL career. But it’s a rough market for the position group right now. Fellow backs Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley have also endured contract disputes this offseason.
Taylor’s production is more than worthy of a new deal. But in today’s NFL, the running back position isn’t valued nearly as much as in previous eras. This could be an interesting thing to keep an eye on, not just in Taylor’s situation, but across the NFL.
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