Insiders address if Colts will trade Jonathan Taylor before deadline

Even a couple of NFL insiders remain unsure if Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor will receive a desired trade before the Oct. 31 deadline for such transactions. 

For a piece published Wednesday, ESPN's Dan Graziano explained that he believes the Colts ultimately will trade Taylor because the 24-year-old "still doesn't want to play" for the organization while Indianapolis doesn't "want to give him a long-term contract." 

Taylor is in the final season of his rookie deal, made it known as far back as the spring he wanted financial guarantees beyond 2023 and will stay on the physically unable to perform list through at least Week 4. 

Specifically, Graziano linked Taylor with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns improved to 2-1 via an impressive 27-3 win over the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday that occurred less than a week after Cleveland lost Nick Chubb to a season-ending torn MCL. 

With all of that said, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN disagrees with Graziano and thinks Taylor will stay put. 

"I don't see a team that's clamoring to give up a (day two draft pick) for a running back," Fowler mentioned. Fowler also noted that the Colts are 2-1 without Taylor, which caused Graziano to acknowledge that teams simply "don't want to pay for the position" enough to trade for and sign a big name such as the one-time First-Team All-Pro. 

As shared by ESPN stats, Colts running back Zack Moss played in just two of the season's first three games but nevertheless enters Week 4 ninth in the entire NFL with 210 rushing yards serving as Taylor's main replacement. Moss also contributed a rushing touchdown to go along with six catches for 42 yards and a score across the past two contests, and his performances seemed to show even an advertised rebuilding team can win without having a superstar in the backfield. 

Unless the Colts drop their asking price, Taylor may have no other choice than to play for his current employer through January.