The Colts are listening to offers for star Running Back Jonathan Taylor, despite not requesting a trade like the rest of the Colts in the middle of the 2026 season. The Colts reportedly highly value Taylor and have a strong market for the 2025 NFL leader in Total Touchdowns from scrimmage, as teams look for him to be a final piece for a deep playoff run.
However, they are more than willing to keep Jonathan Taylor if no trade offer appeals to them.
Of the offers they’ve already received, The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported what wasn’t enough to get the Colts to move on from their best offensive player.
A 2nd and another pick will hang on you. The Colts want to make a strong push for Jonathan Taylor to trade him before he breaks their franchise all-time rushing yard record set by Hall of Famer Edgerrin James.
Per reporter Josina Anderson of the Exhibit News Network (formerly with CBS, ESPN, Fox, and Showtime), the Colts named a price.
The Colts want a Round 1 pick (2027 or 2028, has yet to be determined) as well as a defensive tackle. With DeForest Buckner a 49er again, Grover Stewart over 33 years old and on an expiring deal, and Adetomiwa Adebawore on an expiring deal (though he is a priority to re-sign according to the Colts), the Colts would logically want to address the interior of their defensive front with their biggest trade potential before the deadline.
With a list of suitors longer than CVS’s receipt, there are many different players (along with different draft pick packages) that the Colts could acquire. Entering a rebuild and previously prioritizing trading away expiring veteran contracts (Buckner and Quenton Nelson), the Colts will likely prioritize young Defensive Tackles still on rookie contracts who could be promising additions to a developing core.
Domonique “Big Citrus” Orange is a shorter 6’1.875″ but big near 330 lb Nose Tackle/ 1 Technique who is a natural fit as Grover Stewart’s replacement to help demand double teams on the interior and defend the run.
Arguably one of the best run defenders of the 2026 NFL Draft, Orange could help fix the Colts run defense.
Chris McClellan is a 6’3 and 317 lb defender who can also play the same position as the Orange and is closer to Grover Stewart’s size (6’4 and 314 lb.). He previously played Defensive End in college before moving inside and had 6 sacks his senior year at Missouri. Plays with a lot of power in his hands and a quick burst at the line.
The Colts will also finally see a return to town with former local Indiana high schooler Darius Alexander as part of a trade package. The former Arizona Cardinal was traded to the Giants in mid-2025 and became a rookie of the week nominee after his flashes as a pass rusher. Unlike the previous two linemen, Alexander is not a space eater but a gap shooter from the 3 Technique (sometimes 5 Technique Defensive End). He will be part of a rotation with Adebawore and could line up next to the Colts’ breakout defensive tackle in certain rush packages on clear passing downs. This former Toledo Rocket could help solidify a strong rotation at a key interior spot.
Whether it’s one of these three young Defensive Tackles, or another team willing to pay the price for Jonathan Taylor, the Colts will only make a trade if they get an offer that beats them.
Otherwise, expect Jonathan Taylor to remain a Colt. The former Wisconsin Badger is under contract through the 2028 season, at which point the Colts will likely have a new young Quarterback through the 2027 or 2028 Draft to hopefully become a new franchise QB. They could keep Taylor for the length of his deal since he’s only 27, or trade him in the 2026 offseason instead of midseason and still get a nice return (assuming health, knock on wood).
The ball is in the rest of the NFL court. If any team wants 3 potential playoff pushes with one of the best pure runners in the NFL leading their backfield, they will need to pony up before the trade deadline… before one of their fellow competitors does.