In the latest Indianapolis Colts trade rumors, former second-round pick and All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor could be ready to dump his current team to join a new roster midway through the 2026 season. Last year, it was a dream come true for the Colts, who lost one game after eight straight wins. It was then that QB Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending injury, leading former Los Angeles Charger long-term veteran Philip Rivers to return to the league. To no surprise, Rivers couldn’t manage an offense, especially in his first season back in years, when the Colts missed the postseason in one of the more promising years in a long time.
Taylor is entering the final year of his contract, and the longer he waits, the worse it gets for Indianapolis. They’ve managed to pay WR Alec Pierce to a long-term extension before hitting free agency this offseason. Pierce had plans to cash in elsewhere, but the Colts immediately signed him to a new deal. With their stellar running back, it’s a different story. He’s no longer going to be the same speedster he once was in a couple of years, which Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report mentioned briefly:
“Taylor has more than 1,500 career carries on his body, and he’ll turn 28 next January—an age at which many running backs begin to decline,” he said.
Colts Trade Rumors: $42M Star Projected to Force Blockbuster Deal
Davenport continues to say that if the RB is absorbing the kind of punishment of putting stellar seasons while just appearing in the postseason once, he’d have a better chance with a contender. The three-time Pro Bowler’s time is precious in today’s league, and if the Colts are wasting it this upcoming season, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see him move on. However, if a deal materializes while the team is enduring another season, what then?
Turning Down the Offer
The most shocking thing the RB can do is turn down a contract extension during the season. This is why the Colts should get the deal done before Week 1 to avoid a situation like this. At the same time, if the team is still rebuilding under Jones, then what’s the point, right? Indianapolis had its opportunity, but it isn’t to say that it’s all on their veteran QB.
With this, it just means the Colts will need to figure out how they want their offense to look for the next five years. If Taylor isn’t in those plans, the team will need to start listening to offers quickly. When will a potential trade request come? The final verdict could be that the team is 1-6 and the RB is still without a new deal, which would allow the Colts to be flexible here and net the best draft capital in return.
Potential Fits
Denver Broncos
While the Broncos re-signed JK Dobbins to a two-year extension this offseason, don’t be shocked if the team wants to strengthen its RB room midway through the 2026 season. Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin are battling for the last roster spot, but none of these unproven options will probably have a job after the upcoming campaign. It doesn’t take away from RJ Harvey’s long-term potential in this unit, as the team could have three highly proven backs in the same room.
Given Dobbins’ health, the team trading for Taylor might be the right move, especially after getting WR Jaylen Waddle this offseason.
Chicago Bears
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears are one offensive superstar away from having one of the most spectacular teams in the NFC. QB Caleb Williams almost has a perfect roster despite losing WR DJ Moore this offseason. The team still leans on Rome Odunze and Luther Burden as their primary pass-catchers, but they need to fortify their RB room.
Roschon Johnson is likely gone and D’Andre Swift is getting older. This points to Taylor being the next man in Chicago to take this offense to the NFC Championship Game.
