The Indianapolis Colts may be willing to come down a little on their laughably high asking price for running back Jonathan Taylor, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder.
Indy, which had been seeking at least a first-round pick or value equivalent to a first-rounder, had been boldly asking inquiring teams for players considered to be off limits such as star third-year receiver Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins and second-year wideout Christian Watson of the Green Bay Packers, who averaged 14.9 yards per reception and scored seven touchdowns as a rookie last year.
But according to Holder, if the Colts do move Taylor when he’s activated from the PUP list in a few weeks, they’re willing to be a little more realistic with what they’ll take in return.
“They asked for a package of picks amounting to a first-round pick, but the reality is they'd settle for something a bit less,” Holder wrote. “They seem determined to not just give him away and will play hardball, if necessary. Another complicating factor: A team that trades for Taylor will have to weigh whether to sign him to a new deal."
@AlbertBreer
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) September 21, 2023
We’re two weeks from Jonathan Taylor’s possible return but will he be traded beforehand? And could another big-name RB get dealt before the deadline?#NFL #ForTheShoe #TNF pic.twitter.com/h1QR1HjIjM
The Colts granted Taylor, who requested to be traded in July, permission to seek a trade on Aug. 21 but gave him a team-imposed deadline of Aug. 29. The team didn’t receive what it believed to be a fair price for the 25-year-old running back, but the possibility of trading Taylor appears to still be on the table.
Holder stated that Taylor has leverage over the Colts; Indy lacks true explosive playmakers, and Taylor is arguably the team’s best offensive weapon. He also pointed out that the Colts are thin at RB and pairing a player of Taylor’s caliber with Anthony Richardson is perhaps best for the rookie quarterback’s development and for the team to have a formidable offense.
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