ESPN Proposes 5 Trades for Jonathan Taylor

ESPN recently asked five of their experts to propose trades for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is eligible to come off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list after two more games.

Head coach Shane Steichen keeps toeing the company line saying he expects Taylor to return to the team, but there's no guarantee he isn't traded once he's eligible.

In a recent article on ESPN+, the Worldwide Leader asked five of their NFL experts to propose a trade for Taylor. Which one would the Colts accept... if any?

First up was Dan Graziano. He had the Cleveland Browns sending the Colts a 2024 second-round pick. He recognized that the Browns just signed Kareem Hunt, but he's not convinced that's enough to replace the loss of Nick Chubb. 

The Colts get back a pick in the same round where they took Taylor in 2020, and they're rid of an ugly situation. The Browns still owe Chubb nearly $12 million in (non-guaranteed) salary in 2024, so the situation gets complicated if Taylor requires a new contract in order to play for them. Chubb's future is somewhat up in the air at the moment, though, and the Browns have the cap space to dump a whole bunch of money into this year if they need to do so to get a deal done for Taylor. -- Dan Graziano, ESPN+

Jeremy Fowler went a different route and chose the Kansas City Chiefs. He has the reigning Super Bowl champs sending the Colts third-round picks in 2024 and 2025 along with running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

Kansas City's receiving core is largely unproven, and tight end Travis Kelce was banged up to begin the season. The acquisition of Taylor could alleviate pressure. Meanwhile, Indy would stockpile midround picks while adding a change-of-pace back to help rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. Edwards-Helaire is a free agent in 2024 and could be a stopgap option for the Colts. -- Jeremy Fowler, ESPN+

The Chiefs' third-round picks are likely to be in the 90's each of the next-two seasons, but for a rebuilding Colts' team that isn't a year away from contending, two-late thirds may sound better than a mid-to-late second.

Seth Walder has the Pittsburgh Steelers sending running back Najee Harris and a 2024 fourth-round pick.

Harris is a replacement-level back -- he failed to even reach 4.0 yards per carry and posted negative rush yards over expectation in each of his first two seasons -- so I'd be happy to part ways with him if I was the Steelers' general manager (don't tell the Colts I said that). Indianapolis could sell Harris to its fan base as a bona fide running back only in his third season who represents a solid return for Taylor, along with a draft pick. From the Steelers' perspective, I would be hoping to sell Taylor on the rest of this season being a chance for him to prove his worth in a new offense and prove the Colts wrong. If all goes well, fresh contract talks could open up at the end of the season. -- Seth Walder, ESPN+

This one stands no chance. Harris fell off in his second year, is off to a slow start in 2023, and has one-more year on his rookie deal before an eight-figure fifth-year option would be available to the Colts.

Field Yates picks the Dolphins as well, and has them sending the Colts a second-round pick in 2024 that could escalate to a first-round pick.

The conditions of this proposal: The Dolphins would send the Colts their 2024 first-round pick if they make the AFC Championship Game this season. Otherwise, it would be a 2024 second-round pick. -- Field Yates, ESPN+

Yates's offer could be better than Graziano's second-round pick from the Browns. Fowler's proposal is still intriguing, and we threw Walder's in the trash can.

Mike Tannenbaum sticks with Miami as well. He has the Dolphins sending the Colts a 2024 second-round pick and safety Jevon Holland. Holland was Pro Football Focus's No. 1 ranked safety as a rookie in 2021. He fell off a bit in 2022, and is off to a good start in 2023 with an 86.2 grade.

Taylor would make an explosive offense even better, and as Yates said, he'd be an upgrade over the backs on the Miami roster. In return, Indianapolis would get a pick likely to be in the top 50 and a young ascending safety who can be the quarterback of its defense for years to come. Holland, a second-round pick in 2021, is under contract through next season and could be looking at an extension next spring. -- Mike Tannenbaum, ESPN+

It's doubtful the Dolphins would send Holland to the Colts in a straight-up exchange for Taylor. A second-round pick and Holland may be too much to ask.

However Stephen Holder, ESPN's beat writer for the Colts, did just that. He accepted Yates' offer for the conditional-first-round pick.

This is a risky proposition for Indianapolis. If Miami's regular-season success continues but it doesn't make the AFC title game, the Colts could wind up with the compensation being a late second-rounder. Adding Taylor would seem to significantly boost the Dolphins' odds of reaching the title game, though, thus sending the Colts a coveted first-round pick. That would position them to add an impact offensive playmaker with the pick next spring -- something they could certainly use. It's a high-risk, high-reward approach, but the kind the Colts can afford. -- Stephen Holder, ESPN+

The drama surrounding Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts has quieted since the season started, and he's been shelved. However, it's inevitable that the chatter restarts in earnest next week as his stint on the PUP list comes to an end.

The best fit for Taylor remains the Colts, but if that bridge has been burned, general manager Chris Ballard will be fortunate to have four-similar offers on the table to choose from.