Jonathan Taylor established himself as one of the premier running backs in the NFL in 2021 when the second-year pro led the league in rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns. 

Last season didn’t go as smoothly for the Indianapolis Colts’ standout. He played in only 11 games due to injury, and his production plummeted. 

In the meantime, the relationship between the player and team eroded, to the point that Taylor requested a trade. The Colts initially said it wouldn’t happen, but are now allowing him to seek out potential partners. 

Now as the team is expected to bring Taylor off injured reserve and back with the team for Week 5, trade chatter has picked up. For a team in need of an All-Pro RB, what an opportunity. 

Bookies.com oddsmaker Adam Thompson has used his resources in NFL betting contacts developed over 20 years covering the league and updated his NFL futures odds on Taylor’s team at the trade deadline. 

Jonathan Taylor 2023 Trade Deadline Odds

Odds are for entertainment purposes only and do not reflect odds that may be available on legal betting apps.

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Is Taylor Out Of Indy? 

Taylor was a force in 2022, his second pro season. He averaged 106.5 rush yards per game, tops in the NFL, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He even caught 40 passes for 360 yards, a robust 9.0 average. 

Injuries limited Taylor to 11 games, but he didn’t perform when he suited up. His yards per game average plummeted to just 78.3, his rush average to 4.5, and even his yards per reception cratered to 5.1. 

Taylor is an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 season. He was hoping for a massive extension, but like many other running backs on the market or potentially so, negotiations haven’t gone as hoped for the player. Now, he wants out, and he doesn’t want to wait until the end of the season. 

Indy gave Taylor until Aug. 29 to find a suitable trade partner (and offer). While a few teams reached out, none were willing to bend to the Colts' big asking price. 

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The “go seek your own trade” option didn’t work for the Chargers’ Austin Ekeler, who couldn’t find a suitor earlier this offseason. He’ll be an UFA for 2024. That’s why the Colts remain a strong contender to keep Taylor for this season. 

There will still be teams that inquire about Taylor. Whether they’re willing to shell out NFL draft picks and a major contract extension is to be determined. 

Future Landing Spots For RB Jonathan Taylor

From a salary cap perspective, Taylor has a $5.1 million cap hit for 2023. Twenty teams have that much available cap space in the midst of the season. 

No team has a higher combination of cap space and RB need as the Cleveland Browns. The Browns were built to win now before star RB Nick Chubb was lost for the season with a knee injury. Jerome Ford is now the lead back; Taylor would be a big upgrade. The Browns have $35.8 million in cap space. It's almost makes too much sense. 

On the surface, the Cincinnati Bengals and Las Vegas Raiders don't need a back. But Joe Mixon and Josh Jacobs have performed well below expectations. The Bengals and Raiders rank 31st and 32nd, respectively, in rush yards per game. Each has the funding to acquire Taylor, and a RB on in the final year of their deals. Changes of scenery could benefit all sides. 

The Green Bay Packers inquired about Taylor, but the asking price was too high. The Pack have Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon but are 30th in rushing through four weeks. If the price has come down, Green Bay could come calling again. 

All three teams have the cap space to make a move work with no other moves. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could use an attention-worthy RB to take pressure off pressure-magnet QB Baker Mayfield. The Tom Brady-led Bucs won the NFC South last season was a measly 8-9 record. The division is once again up for grabs; adding Taylor could push Tampa from underdog to favorite. Like the Bucs, the Los Angeles Rams have been a mini-surprise so far. They traded Cam Akers to the Vikings, leaving relatively unproven Kyren Williams as the top option. Putting Taylor atop the depth chart suddenly gives the Rams a playoff-worthy offense. 

The Field is led by other teams that could potentially use a RB but may have cap restrictions or aren't in the mix, including the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders. 

One major hurdle: Miami is currently $41 million over the projected 2024 salary cap. Offering a major extension may be untenable without some massive concessions. 

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The Buffalo Bills were part of every rumor mill regarding running backs. James Cook and Damien Harris lead the room now. Cap space is a big hurdle. It’s not an issue for the Washington Commanders, who were rumored to be sniffing around for a go-to RB. 

Brian Robinson Jr. enters his third season and appears to be in a work-share program with Antonio Gibson. Only the Bears and Patriots have more cap space ready to spend in ’24. 

The Field is led by the Los Angeles Rams, who may not be sold on Cam Akers as a future leadback. The Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings could also seek an immediate upgrade if the price is right. 

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