If former punter turned talk show host Pat McAfee had his way, the Indianapolis Colts would trade running back Jonathan Taylor. A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Taylor has been one of the few consistent bright spots in the post-Andrew Luck Era of Colts football. After a 1,100-yard rookie season, Taylor established himself as one of the league’s elite backs in 2021, leading the NFL in carries (332), yards (1,811), and touchdowns (18) while earning First-Team All-Pro honors.
While he never recaptured that dominant form, he remains one of the league’s more productive backs. Last year, the Wisconsin product finished the season with 303 carries for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns despite inconsistent quarterback play. While he wasn’t immune from the occasional bone-headed play, he was the most consistent part of the Colts offense. However, McAfee believes it’s time for the team to sell high on the running back. During a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show, the former punter didn’t mince words when discussing Taylor’s future.
“Jonathan Taylor, trade his f***ing a** out of town. How do we go about doing it? You get a second-round pick? Sweet, first would be better.”
Let’s start with some disclaimers: Pat McAfee does not work for the team and has no say over whether or not the Colts decide to trade Jonathan Taylor. Additionally, it’s hard to envision any team giving up a first- or second-round pick for Taylor considering the abundance of talented running back prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, with that out of the way, Indianapolis is probably heading into another rebuild and the team could save over $10 million in cap space by sending Taylor to a new team. While a trade isn’t particularly likely, the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs make the most sense.
Chargers, Chiefs Could Trade For Jonathan Taylor
Nobody believes in the run game more than Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. An old-school mind, the former college football champion guided the team to the playoffs with J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards leading his backfield. Dobbins played well when healthy, but the former Raven struggled to stay on the field and is an impending free agent. Edwards, meanwhile, couldn’t make the most of his opportunities and looks more equipped for a smaller role.
Harbaugh will look for an upgrade in the offseason, which means he could entertain a Jonathan Taylor trade. While there are plenty of talented running backs in the upcoming draft class, none of them have proven their worth on the NFL stage. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is the best of the bunch, but he could be off the board before Los Angeles is on the clock. If that happens, don’t be surprised if the Chargers trade a Day 2 pick to the Colts for Jonathan Taylor.
More Help For Mahomes
The Kansas City Chiefs made a mistake in the 2020 NFL Draft when they selected LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire over Taylor. Now, they have the opportunity to rectify that mistake. Former seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco has outplayed his draft capital and established himself as a legitimate starter, but the impending free agent could leave for greener pastures. Even if he doesn’t price his way out of Kansas City, the Chiefs could still look for an upgrade.
Pacheco is a solid starter, but he lacks the explosive big-play potential of someone like Jonathan Taylor. The Chiefs haven’t had a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the backfield since the original Kareem Hunt days, and a Jonathan Taylor trade could make one of the league’s most dangerous offenses that much more terrifying.
Main Photo: Grace Hollars – USA Today Sports
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