Jonathan Taylor rumors

[Phishfan]

The asking price is going to be a first round pick. No thanks.

[Dave Gray]

2nd rounder for another RB who might not even be better than what we have on the roster? Absolutely not worth it for me.

Are you really thinking that Taylor isn't a significantly better player than the guys we have?  He's like a top 3 back, isn't he?

[Denver2]

Someone like Taylor gives us an edge. Running backs are not in demand like it used to be but he’s one of a few guys that can still take over and change a game. If we add him it gives us a higher chance to capitalize on this short window we appear to have. The pressure it takes off Tua would be tremendous and it’s naturally going to open up the passing game even more.

I say take a swing, don’t gamble the entire future on him but I’d pair a couple of second’s no questions.

[Denver2]

It's pretty hilarious that Jim Irsay says "Running backs just don't have value" one day and then says "I won't accept anything less than a first-round pick for my running back" the next.

I feel terrible for pro running backs the bind the owners have put them in is very unfortunate.

[Brian Fein]

Rumor i saw was Ogbah + a 2nd round pick.

Sounds like they are close to making it happen.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Rumor i saw was Ogbah + a 2nd round pick.

Sounds like they are close to making it happen.

God, I hope that's not true. Weaken our defense AND lose a 2nd rounder for a one year rental at a position that doesn't need drastic improvement?

[Pappy13]

Are you really thinking that Taylor isn't a significantly better player than the guys we have?  He's like a top 3 back, isn't he?

If that were the case Indy wouldn't be shopping him.

[Brian Fein]

If that were the case Indy wouldn't be shopping him.

Indy is shopping him because he's unhappy and doesn't want to play for them.  He might hold out and waste his last year before hitting FA next season and they lose him for nothing.

God, I hope that's not true. Weaken our defense AND lose a 2nd rounder for a one year rental at a position that doesn't need drastic improvement?

Weaken the defense, dump 15million of salary, maybe he's not a 1 year rental anymore...?

[EDGECRUSHER]

Indy is shopping him because he's unhappy and doesn't want to play for them.  He might hold out and waste his last year before hitting FA next season and they lose him for nothing.
Weaken the defense, dump 15million of salary, maybe he's not a 1 year rental anymore...?

Never pay big money for a running back in today's NFL. The drop off from a Top 5 RB to a 3rd round rookie isn't worth money. We're better with Ogbah and our current RBs than with Taylor and without Ogbah.

[Brian Fein]

isn't Ogbah bench depth when you have 2 better edge rushers on the team?  at 15 million per year, is it worth a defensive rotation?

[Pappy13]

Indy is shopping him because he's unhappy and doesn't want to play for them.

He's not happy and doesn't want to play for them because he wants a new contract and Indy doesn't want to pay him. If he was a top 3 RB they would have already given him a new contract. He's coming off a season where his numbers were down, I think they would like to see those numbers come back to where they were in 2021 before giving him a new contract, so they gave him a chance to find a trade partner so that they can get something for him if he decides to sit out the season. I remember when Zeke was holding the Cowboys hostage 2 years before his contract was up and the Cowboys paid him. That was a mistake and he's a lot better RB than Jonathan Taylor.

I'm happy with the RB's we have here now. They're not as good as Taylor, but the Dolphins don't really need Taylor either. Their offense isn't built upon the run game, it's built on the pass game and hitting for a few big runs a game which the RB's on the roster can do.

[Spider-Dan]

He's not happy and doesn't want to play for them because he wants a new contract and Indy doesn't want to pay him.

That is an inaccurate assessment.

Taylor is unhappy because of the comments from Indy's owner about running backs.  Taylor believes that no matter how well he does, the Colts won't pay him because Jim Irsay doesn't value that position.  Or, to quote Taylor directly:

"1. If you're good enough, they'll find you.

2. If you work hard enough, you'll succeed.

…If you succeed…

3. You boost the Organization

…and then…

Doesn't matter, you're a RB."

Furthermore:

If he was a top 3 RB they would have already given him a new contract.

That's not true at all in 2023.
Who would you call the top 3 RBs in the league right now, and what contracts are they playing under?

[Pappy13]

That is an inaccurate assessment.

So he doesn't want a new contract and Indy does want to pay him? I'd like to know what part of my statement is inaccurate.

Taylor is unhappy because of the comments from Indy's owner about running backs.

Well he's probably also unhappy about those comments, but that's just more kindling for the fire.

Taylor believes that no matter how well he does, the Colts won't pay him because Jim Irsay doesn't value that position.

I fail to see how this is different from what I said. He wants a new contract and Indy doesn't want to give it to him.

The following seems about right to me at least based on last year's stats. If he regains his form he might be a top 5 RB, but there's no guarantee of that.

https://www.nfl.com/news/rb-index-ranking-all-75-starting-running-backs-from-the-2022-nfl-season

[Spider-Dan]

"Doesn't want to pay" is present tense.  That is not the reason Taylor wants to be traded.
He believes they will not (future tense) want to pay him, based on Irsay's comments.

I think Taylor would be willing to be traded to a different team without necessarily receiving a new contract this year.  The crux of the issue is that Taylor believes he is on a team that does not value him and will not pay him - regardless of how well he plays - because Irsay views running backs as inherently expendable.

[Pappy13]

"Doesn't want to pay" is present tense.  That is not the reason Taylor wants to be traded.

You're splitting hairs. He wants an extension to his current contract. Now it's quite possible that he would be willing to wait till next year to get it, but he wants it now. He in fact went to Irsay to talk about an extension and was rebuffed. That's what he's unhappy about. In fact I've seen several articles that say one of the sticking points with trading for him is the contract that he wants. Most teams aren't willing to make him a contract offer this year, they want to see him play in 2023 just like Indy. He wants it now or at least he wants to be in conversations about it now. Whether or not he gets that is a different story.

He believes they will not (future tense) want to pay him, based on Irsay's comments.

I'm sure that's true. Neither is anyone else based on his 2022 production at least not the contract that he wants. This is the problem not just for the Colts but for everyone thinking about trading for him. He wants a new contract and he wants it without having to "prove" himself this year. No one wants to do that. They'd either like to give him a contract more in line with his production from 2022 which is not top 5 RB or wait to see how he performs in 2023 and then discuss a new contract. Neither is what Taylor wants.

I think Taylor would be willing to be traded to a different team without necessarily receiving a new contract this year.

Willing, but not happy about it.

The crux of the issue is that Taylor believes he is on a team that does not value him and will not pay him - regardless of how well he plays - because Irsay views running backs as inherently expendable.

Which is pretty much a common theme in the NFL. They also would like to see him return to 2021 form before giving him a new contract and he's not happy about that.