Jonathan Taylor Falls in NFL Executive Rankings

ESPN conducts a yearly survey of league executives and personnel for player rankings.

As preseason lists make there way around the internet this summer, it should be no surprise that Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor isn't as ranked as highly this year as he was last year.

ESPN conducts an annual survey of NFL executives, scouts and players to compile player rankings. After seeing his rushing total decrease by nearly 1,000 yards in 2023, Taylor was expected to fall, but how far he fell is still a bit surprising.

On these same rankings last year, Taylor came in as the No. 2 running back in the NFL. He fell to No. 6 this year behind Nick Chubb, Christian McCaffrey, Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, and Derrick Henry. 

After a historic 2021 campaign with 1,811 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns and an All-Pro bid, Taylor looked poised for the top spot for years to come. 

But his 2022 campaign was challenging, missing six games with an ankle issue and running behind a porous line.

The Colts ranked 23rd in run block win rate in 2022, compared to seventh the year before. 

As one NFL personnel executive sees it, this reality showed the strengths and shortcomings of Taylor's game. 

"He's got top-end speed and can get the tough yards, but he's not a creative guy who can do it on his own," the executive said. "He needs it blocked up and then he can make it happen." -- Jeremy Fowler, ESPN+

It's interesting that the anonymous executive quoted by Fowler knocked Taylor not just for injury and poor offensive line play, but for his skill set.

Clearly Taylor would have been more effective if he had been 100% all season, but would Saquon Barkley have been more effective for the Colts than a healthy Taylor?

A bruiser like Chubb or Jacobs may have done better with poor offensive line play, but how creative can a back be when he's dodging defenders in the backfield?

At the end of the day, these rankings won't help (or hurt) the Colts win a single game in 2023, but they could still be interesting to Taylor.

Taylor is set to be a free agent after this season, and two players ranked ahead of him have yet to agree to terms on a contract extension (Jacobs and Barkley). 

Dalvin Cook is just behind him at No. 8 on the list, and he's still a free agent.

If Taylor is going to get an extension that helps reset a fading running back market, he's going to need to be at the top of this list at season's end.