By Fred Minco
The Indianapolis Colts have finally given Superstar Running Back Jonathan Taylor permission to request a trade, only 1 year removed from a 1st Team All Pro performance, amassing nearly 2,200 all-purpose yards and 20 TDs, finishing 2nd in OPOY. After a disappointing 2022 with only 1004 all-purpose yards and 4 TDs, playing in only 11 games. The Indianapolis Colts have decided it might be time to pull out.
So that bares the question, where does Jonathan Taylor land? Jim Irsay finally has a capable QB or atleast he hopes to have a capable QB. Why would you want to take an All Pro RB from his side? It doesn’t matter (in my Dwayne the Rock Johnson Voice). There are 31 teams who can absolutely take advantage of Jim Irsay in the most legal way possible. Now ole Jim does seem to have a high asking price bc he's aware of what he has but refuses to pay JT want he's worth. Jim and the Colts are looking for a 1st round pick. NFL Reporter Albert Breer asked Multiple NFL Execs what theyd be willing to pay with a new contract involved. There responses were interesting to say the least:
AFC GM: a 2nd round pick
AFC exec: 3rd and 5th
NFC exec: 'Package in the value of 2nd or 3rd'
2nd AFC exec: 3rd or 4th
2nd NFC exec: 2nd or 3rd, 'Less than the McCaffrey trade'
3rd NFC exec: 'Maybe a day 2 pick'
3rd AFC exec: 3rd round pick
4th AFC exec: 2nd round pick
4th NFC exec: ''Possibly a day 2 pick'
5th NFC exec: A 4th that could turn into a 3rd under play-time conidiations.
These assessments should be taken with a grain of salt (kinda). Now that does make it nteresting to see that a player who’s only 24 years old, with his best ball ahead of him, isn’t netting much more value. Any team acquiring him would take on his $4.3 million base salary but that’s before any more money and he is looking for a raise. How much of a raise? Well Saquon just signed to a 1 year $11 million extension and you’ve got guys like Christian McCaffrey making $16 million this upcoming season. Taylor is projected to be worth $14 million APY, so a team would need decent cap space to make sure his needs get attended to.
The South Jersey Native is close to home in Philadelphia this week for Joint Practices with the Eagles, who come in at #10 for most likely to win the JT Sweepstakes at +2000. Shout out to Draft Kings for providing the odds for us but take a look:
Dolphins +250
Bears +400
Ravens +700
Broncos+750
Cowboys +750
Commanders +1000
Bills +1000
Buccaneers +1000
Vikings +1500
Eagles +2000
With the Dolphins missing out on Dalvin Cook are they the prime suitor? Do the Ravens add to their plethora of RBs? Does anybody circle the wagon better than the Buffalo Bills? You can expect a trade to happen within the first 3 weeks of the regular season and I’d say even sooner than that. We’ll keep you updated and in the loop. Here on Fresh Off the Clock!