The Indianapolis Colts ended the holdout drama around Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor by signing him to a three-year, $42 million extension. Taylor is expected to play on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
The Colts spent several weeks trying to find a trade partner for Taylor, who is in the last year of his rookie deal. The team reportedly talked to several organizations, looking for a high draft pick and a young wide receiver to pair with rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.
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How Does Jonathan Taylor’s New Deal Impact the Colts’ Future?
Indianapolis now has Taylor, who will turn 25 in January, under contract for the next four seasons. He can be an unrestricted free agent following the 2026 season when he will be 28.
The length of the deal is a plus for the Colts because Taylor should still be in his prime through 2026. The team knows what Taylor and Richardson will count against the salary cap for the next four seasons.
The Colts also have a pair of three-time All-Pros signed through 2026 in 27-year-old guard Quenton Nelson and 28-year-old linebacker Shaquille Leonard. The Colts can build around this strong core in the draft and free agency.
How Have the Colts Played Without Taylor
Indianapolis is 2-2 after an overtime home loss to the Los Angeles Rams last week and is in a four-way tie for first place in the AFC South. The team is 14th in the NFL with 24.3 points per game and 115.8 rush yards per game.
MORE: NFL Offense Rankings 2023
The Colts released running back Deon Jackson, the Week 1 starter, after he gained 14 yards on 13 rushes in the first two games. Zach Moss started the last three games and has averaged over 93 rushing yards per game. Richardson is the team’s second-leading rusher with 131 yards and four touchdowns.
What Does Taylor Bring to the Colts Offense?
Taylor rushed for 29 touchdowns and 2,980 yards in his first two seasons, including when he led the NFL with 1,811 yards in 2021. He was rewarded with All-Pro honors and won the NFL Bert Bell Award as the best player in the league for 2021.
Last season, Taylor rushed for 861 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games and had his season cut short in December by an ankle injury he dealt with most of the season. He had surgery in the offseason to repair the ankle and started this season on the PUP list.
If Taylor can return to play at an All-Pro level, he will take the lead role in the Colts offense and allow Richardson to grow as a rookie. The attention that defenses would give a healthy Taylor would take a lot of pressure off the young quarterback.
What Are the Top 10 Running Back Contracts?
- 1) Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers) | $16 million AAV (average annual value)
- 2) Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints) | AAV: $15.0 million
- 3) Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts | AAV: $14 million
- 4) Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans | AAV: $12.5 million
- 5) Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns | AAV: $12.2 million
- 6) Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders | AAV: $12 million
- 7) Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers | AAV: $12 million
- T-8) Saquon Barkey, New York Giants | AAV: $10.1 million
- T-8) Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys | AAV: $10.1 million
- T-10) James Connor, Arizona Cardinals | AAV: $7 million
- T-10) Dalvin Cook, New York Jets | AAV: $7 million
Here’s a deeper analysis of the top running back contracts.
