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The Indianapolis Colts are currently in free fall, dropping five straight games following a 2-2 start to the season. During this difficult losing streak, Indianapolis fired general manager Chris Ballard and traded two franchise cornerstones, with interim general manager Ed Dodds shipping guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the 49ers.
Such roster moves often generate trade rumors, and that has certainly been the case for the Colts ahead of the trade deadline. While several Indianapolis players have emerged as trade candidates, running back Jonathan Taylor stands out above the rest of the group.
Taylor recorded 20 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage last year, and he is tracking toward another massive season while the Colts struggle. At 27 years old, he has played in just one playoff game, which came during his rookie season in 2020. He would command a massive return haul, which the Colts desperately need, especially since they lack their 2027 first-round pick—currently sitting at No. 4 overall—following last year’s trade for Sauce Gardner.
Taylor would attract substantial interest if made available, in a situation reminiscent of the Carolina Panthers trading Christian McCaffrey in 2022. While McCaffrey offered more versatility in the passing game and was younger at the time of his deal, he also carried a more extensive injury history. In that 2022 transaction, the Panthers acquired second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-round draft picks.
Potential Trade Packages for Jonathan Taylor
With those factors in mind, CBS Sports Headlines explored four NFL teams that could inquire about acquiring Taylor and what a potential mock trade might entail:
New York Giants
Giants receive: RB Jonathan Taylor
Colts receive: RB Cam Skattebo, 2027 second-round pick, 2028 fourth-round pick
John Harbaugh stated last month that he would love to have a Derrick Henry or Saquon Barkley circumstance on his roster. While it may have disappointed Giants fans to hear Harbaugh mention his former running back alongside a former Giants star, Taylor could fill that exact workhorse role. Harbaugh confirmed that the Giants previously submitted an offer for Taylor before retracting it. Securing two high draft picks over the next two years, along with Skattebo—who showed rookie promise despite an uneven 2026 campaign—would provide a solid return for Indianapolis. Although the Giants currently lead a weak NFC East, pairing Taylor alongside Jaxson Dart next season presents an enticing outlook.
However, it is worth noting that Harbaugh comes from Baltimore, one of the league’s most patient draft-and-develop organizations, making this potential move a significant departure from that philosophy.
Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals receive: RB Jonathan Taylor, 2027 fifth-round pick
Colts receive: RB Chase Brown, 2027 second-round pick, 2027 fourth-round pick
This proposal closely mirrors the package Carolina received for McCaffrey, substituting a third-round pick with Chase Brown. At 26 years old, Brown carries less wear and tear than Taylor while remaining an accomplished player and productive pass catcher capable of handling a heavy workload. A change of scenery could benefit him after struggling to find momentum this season. For the Bengals, this would mark their second major win-now acquisition in just over six months, following the April trade that sent the No. 10 pick to the Giants for Dexter Lawrence. Although Cincinnati attempted to incorporate more under-center looks, they remained among the league’s least effective teams in that formation and reverted to a shotgun-heavy, pass-heavy scheme. In postseason play or adverse weather conditions, however, they might require greater offensive balance. Cincinnati also holds an extra third-round pick, making the loss of draft capital easier to absorb.
Denver Broncos
Broncos receive: RB Jonathan Taylor, 2027 sixth-round pick
Colts receive: RB J.K. Dobbins, 2027 second-round pick, 2027 third-round pick, 2028 fourth-round pick
The Broncos traded a first-round pick for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle this offseason to upgrade their offense, though that move has not yet fully panned out. Whether they would commit another major deal to upgrade their backfield with Taylor remains a question. Denver has struggled to establish a consistent ground game, which has compounded the struggles of quarterback Bo Nix, despite Nix showing improvement recently. Dobbins is currently playing on a two-year contract, though the deal includes an out after this season should the Colts choose to utilize it.
Minnesota Vikings
Vikings receive: RB Jonathan Taylor
Colts receive: RB Jordan Mason, 2027 second-round pick, 2027 third-round pick
The Vikings find themselves searching for quarterback solutions following a difficult Monday Night Football loss to the Bills in which Carson Wentz threw two interceptions while Kyler Murray remained sidelined with a hamstring injury. If Minnesota cannot secure help at quarterback, they could instead attempt to bolster the struggling parts of their offense. Mason would serve as a promising, relatively young asset for the Colts to incorporate moving forward. Additionally, the Vikings possess ample draft capital, holding an extra third-round pick, two extra fifth-round picks, and two extra sixth-round picks.
