The Indianapolis Colts have granted Jonathan Taylor permission to explore trade options. They may struggle to find a suitor willing to pay a reportedly lofty asking price.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Colts are seeking “even more” than the package the Carolina Panthers received for Christian McCaffrey during the 2022 season. The San Francisco 49ers gave Carolina three 2023 picks (second, third, and fourth) and a fifth-rounder in 2024.
The #Panthers got four draft picks last October for Christian McCaffrey, including a second-rounder. The #Colts would want more to part with Jonathan Taylor, and that’s just one reason it’s tough to find a trade partner … though all it takes is one. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/JZQYQJ5f1A
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 21, 2023
Indianapolis is reportedly eyeing a Day 1 selection that eluded the Panthers. ESPN’s Stephen Holder said the Colts are seeking a first for Taylor.
Then again, the Panthers reportedly wanted “multiple first-round picks” for McCaffrey. There’s a good chance the Colts also must compromise on their demands to trade Taylor.
The 24-year-old Taylor is younger than McCaffrey (27). And although Taylor underwent offseason ankle surgery, McCaffrey only played 10 games in 2020 and 2021 before last year’s bounce-back campaign.
However, McCcaffrey’s pass-catching prowess probably gives him more perceived value than Taylor in an age where teams consider productive rushers increasingly replaceable.
Taylor has 104 catches for 802 yards through three seasons. McCaffrey, on the other hand, exceeded those numbers in both 2018 and 2019 alone.
Unlike McCaffrey, Taylor is also about to begin a walk year. The 2021 rushing leader requested a trade last month when the Colts declined to offer him a long-term extension.