Multiple teams would be open to a potential trade for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, a source told ESPN on Thursday, but it remains unclear whether the Colts are ready to unload players before the trade deadline. The Colts are still plotting their next moves after Monday's firing of general manager Chris Ballard, with many around the NFL expected to gauge the team's interest in dealing some of its key players.
Taylor, the league's active leader in rushing yards per game (89.9), wasn't ready to broach the idea when asked Thursday. "I haven't given any thought," he said when asked about his future. "That'd be crazy right now, especially because we've got a great Minnesota Vikings team that we have to go against." Taylor was a 2020 draft pick of Ballard, who signed him to two contract extensions, the most recent a three-year deal in August.
Depending on how the weeks before the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline play out, the Colts (2-4) might consider offers for their key talents. Indianapolis faces Minnesota and Jacksonville, which have a combined 9-2 record, in its next two games. The 2026 season was considered pivotal for the franchise after owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon put Ballard and coach Shane Steichen on notice that progress was expected. Significant organizational changes are widely expected after the eventual hire of a new GM.
Defensive tackle De Forest Buckner, 32, is also drawing trade speculation. Asked how he might react to a potential trade, he said, "We'll see." Buckner is scheduled to be a free agent after the season. All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, in the final year of his deal, might also interest teams looking to make a postseason push. Ballard was dismissed the morning after the Colts lost to the previously winless Tennessee Titans, a defeat that prompted chants of "Fire Ballard!" from the home crowd.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing