11:00pm: When speaking after Sunday’s game (video link), Giants head coach John Harbaugh did not refute the report of the offer or New York’s decision to rescind it. He added nothing is considered imminent at this time with respect to a Taylor acquisition. Meanwhile, Taylor himself said following the Colts’ loss (h/t James Boyd of The Athletic) he is unsure of his future. A farewell of sorts to Indianapolis was issued, although Taylor is in line to continue his Colts career as things stand.
11:01am: Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has been one of the most-discussed players in the run-up to this year’s trade deadline, but it seems as if he is going to stay put. NFL insider Jordan Schultz – who reported just last week that Indianapolis was more likely than not to move Taylor – now says the club will retain the three-time Pro Bowler unless they receive an offer that is too good to refuse.
Apparently, a second-rounder and fifth-rounder does not qualify as such. We had been hearing for some time that the Colts had received an offer of a second-round pick plus another selection, and Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer (video link) confirms the Giants put forth a proposal featuring a second and a fifth for Taylor. Dan Duggan of The Athletic observes the fifth-round pick must have been in 2028, since Big Blue does not currently have a fifth in ‘27.
In any case, the Colts rejected the offer, New York has pulled it, and Glazer agrees that a Taylor swap now looks unlikely. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post is a bit more skeptical, however, and wonders whether the Colts are simply posturing to try and extract a more attractive trade package from the Giants or some other suitor before ultimately settling for the best offer on the table. Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano likewise believes Big Blue could re-engage if Indy drops its price before Tuesday’s deadline.
The Schultz and Glazer reports are consistent with one from The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson earlier on Sunday morning. Anderson said the Giants have cooled on Taylor and have decided to move on, and even Vacchiano said defensive tackle had usurped running back as New York’s bigger priority. Still, in light of Cam Skattebo’s latest injury and the fact that Tyrone Tracy is currently on IR, it would not be too surprising if we learn that the Giants are not truly out on Taylor.
The Colts just signed Taylor to an extension that keeps him under club control through 2028, and prior reports have indicated owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon does not want to trade him (even if she might be receptive to the possibility). As Schultz points out, Taylor’s contract status does allow Indy to be patient here, and the club could revisit a trade this offseason, when more suitors could be in play.
The Vikings, who may also be in the quarterback market, were recently considered a possible frontrunner for Taylor, along with the Giants. Clubs like the Bengals, Broncos, Chiefs, Packers, and Seahawks have also been connected to the 27-year-old RB to varying extents. That breadth of interest, together with fact that the Eagles, Ravens, and Titans appear to be keeping Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Tony Pollard, respectively, off the market, could help drive up Taylor’s price to a point where Irsay-Gordon and the Colts are comfortable pulling the trigger.
In addition to Taylor, the Colts have several other trade chips, such as receivers Keenan Allen and Josh Downs. Regardless of the player in question, the Colts are not amenable to paying down salary to “purchase” picks, according to Jonathan Jones of The Athletic. In other words, a team will need to pay whatever draft capital Indy agrees to and will need to assume full responsibility for the acquired player’s contract.
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