Pump the Brakes on the Jonathan Taylor Trade Talk

It’s not every day that a star player gets moved in the NFL. Former Wisconsin football star Jonathan Taylor is one of the best running backs in all of the NFL. He has been one of the Indianapolis Colts’ top weapons and now he wants out.

The former Wisconsin Badgers star requested a trade from the Colts at the start of training camp. He hasn’t been holding out, but he also hasn’t been partaking in the teams’ practices while he deals with some injuries. It didn’t seem like the team was going to trade Taylor, but there seems to be a change in tune.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday night that the Colts are allowing Taylor and his camp to seek a trade.

Colts have given All-Pro RB Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade, per league sources. Other teams now are weighing whether to make an offer to the Colts and what would be fair value. pic.twitter.com/AT7GgJGLAQ

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2023

Trading former Wisconsin football tailback Jonathan Taylor could be easier said than done.

Now, just because Taylor requested a trade and the Colts are giving him permission to seek a trade doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Schefter says while the Colts are willing to trade Taylor, they want premium compensation. According to Schefter, the Colts want either a first-round pick or compensation equivalent to that.

We all know how the NFL views running backs right now. Backs like Taylor are extremely valuable. They are likely in the prime of their careers while on their rookie deals. By the time they get their second, more expensive contracts, their production drops because they are banged up, older, injured…etc.

Part of the issue between Taylor and the Colts is their unwillingness to sign him to an extension. He is currently in the final year of his rookie deal. As one of the best running backs in the league, you can bet Taylor is going to be looking for a big payday after this season. So with that in mind, is a team going to be willing to part with premium draft compensation for one year of JT on a rookie deal, and then break open the piggy bank for him on a second deal? It’s kind of hard to see.

As Wisconsin football fans, we all want to see a former Badger succeed in the league and get a big payday. But in today’s landscape, I think we are more likely to see him hit free agency next offseason and sign a deal that is very incentive-heavy.

It didn’t seem likely that the Colts would blink and agree to trade Taylor. But now that they have, it’s another step closer to JT getting out of Indy and getting what he wants. There is still a long way to go in this saga and I don’t expect it to be resolved soon.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Christian Borman on Twitter @ChristianBorman

Follow this link and use promo code: BADGERNOTES for 25% off your next True Classic order.

Join the Badger Notes watch party and stream Wisconsin Badgers games by following this link.

*Subscribe to BadgerNotes After Dark on Youtube and wherever you find podcasts, the official Wisconsin Badgers podcast of the Big Banter Sports Network.