Top Landing Spots for Colts' RB Jonathan Taylor Amid Latest NFL Trade Rumors

The 2026 NFL trade deadline will arrive at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 10. Between now and then, we can expect several notable players to be moved. Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor could be one of them.

While there's no guarantee that the Colts will engage in a fire sale following the firing of general manager Chris Ballard, it's possible. The Miami Dolphins took a similar approach last season after firing GM Chris Grier. Colts interim GM Ed Dodds will at least have to consider building for the future.

According to ESPN's Stephen Holder , "multiple teams" would be open to acquiring Taylor if he's a player that Dodds will make available.

With this in mind, let's examine the top landing spots for Taylor in 2026. We'll examine why these teams could (or should) pursue Taylor, how they could benefit the three-time Pro Bowler, and what each potential pairing could mean for the rest of the season and beyond.

First, though, let's dive a little further into Taylor's situation and his projected trade value.

Jonathan Taylor's Outlook and Trade Value

For many fans, the reaction to a report that multiple teams are interested in Taylor might be something along the lines of "well, obviously."

Taylor has long been one of the NFL's top running backs, best all-around players, and a legitimate dual-threat. He currently ranks seventh in the NFL with 655 scrimmage yards and is tied for sixth with seven combined rushing and receiving touchdowns. He's managed to thrive in a largely one-dimensional Colts offense that ranks 22nd in passing and 22nd in total yards.

In other words, Taylor is a legitimate difference-maker whose addition could transform a team's offensive identity—not wholly unlike the Kansas City Chiefs' offseason addition of Kenneth Walker III. Of course, there are other factors to consider in addition to Taylor's on-field ability.

For one, Taylor isn't clamoring for a change of scenery.

"I think it would be a discredit and a disservice to my teammates and this whole organization to think about what could, what should, what may be," Taylor said, per Holder .

Secondly, Taylor is under contract through 2029 and is set to see his base salary balloon to $15 million next season. While he's not necessarily old at 27, he's seen a good amount of wear and tear at the NFL level (1,875 touches in 90 regular-season games).

Additionally, any team acquiring Taylor would likely need to pay a hefty price tag.

Theoretically, he could be obtained as a short-term rental and released or dealt again before next year's pay bump—the prorated portion of this year's $7 million base salary would be reasonable, even for teams without a cap surplus. The Colts, though, won't value Taylor the same way.

Taylor has been the centerpiece of Indy's offense for several years, and moving him would cost the Colts $10 million in dead money next year.

The Colts will probably demand a first-round pick to begin negotiations, though a conditional second-rounder might be enough to get a deal done. Alternatively, a package of multiple Day 2 picks similar to the one the Carolina Panthers got for Christian McCaffrey in 2022 (2023 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-round picks, plus a 2024 5th-rounder) might suffice.

The McCaffrey trade is a reasonable comp, as he is a similarly skilled player and was 26 at the time of the trade.

The Denver Broncos have invested in their backfield over the past couple of seasons. They added J.K. Dobbins in free agency last year, used a 2025 second-round pick on RJ Harvey, and used a 2026 fourth-round pick on Jonah Coleman .

However, Denver's investments haven't yielded a quality rushing attack this season, a problem that has been compounded by the underwhelming play of quarterback Bo Nix.

The Broncos currently rank 30th in yards per carry, 31st in total offense, and 26th in scoring.

Injuries have been a piece of the equation—Harvey battled a hamstring strain early in the season, while Coleman was recently designated to return from an ankle sprain. Still, the Broncos' offense has been a mess this season, and Denver lacks the sort of do-it-all offensive weapon that Taylor has been throughout his NFL career.

Adding Taylor would help stabilize Denver's offense while Nix works through whatever issues have been behind his lackluster play. And the Broncos could treat his addition as a long-term investment since Dobbins looms as a likely 2027 cap casualty—cutting him in the spring would save $2 million in cap space.

Pairing Denver's defense with a backfield led by Taylor, Harvey, and Coleman could make the Broncos a formidable force for the next few seasons. Taylor, meanwhile, would get the chance to play for a perennial contender in a Sean Payton offense that would maximize his skill set.

The Seattle Seahawks—who, ironically, lost a sloppy game in Denver last week—share a few similarities with the Broncos. They've gotten less-than-ideal play from quarterback Sam Darnold (7 INTs), and they've struggled to field a high-end rushing attack.

Injuries have been part of the problem for Seattle, too, but the Seahawks currently rank 18th in yards per carry and 17th in total offense. That's simply not good enough for a team looking to repeat as Super Bowl champs.

Now, it's worth noting that Seattle wouldn't make as much sense for Taylor now as it might have a few weeks ago. The Seahawks recently designated Zach Charbonnet to return from last year's torn ACL, and first-round rookie Jadarian Price (chest) will be eligible to return from injured reserve early next month.

The Seahawks weren't willing to give Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III a lucrative contract during the offseason, so why would they invest in Taylor when Charbonnet and Price are cheaper options?

The short answer is that Seattle needs to get Darnold back on track, and it lacks offensive playmakers behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Taylor's big-play ability and dual-threat skill set would help on both fronts.

The other factor to consider is that Charbonnet is set to be a free agent in 2027. If the Seahawks add Taylor, they could build a multi-year backfield tandem of Taylor and Price with the latter on a rookie deal during its duration.

Taylor would get to play for a Super Bowl-caliber team while potentially extending his career by working as part of a duo instead of as an every-down back.

The New York Giants aren't 2026 Super Bowl contenders in the mold of Seattle and Denver. However, New York is a promising up-and-coming team that is looking to build a competitive identity under new head coach John Harbaugh.

Despite losing second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart to a season-ending knee injury, the Giants remain in first place in the NFC East with a 3-2-1 record.

Unfortunately, New York is struggling to keep its offense on a successful path. The Giants will replace Jameis Winston with J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback for Week 7, and they're trying to figure out how to field a dependable running game.

Second-year back Cam Skattebo didn't touch the ball in Week 6, and Harbaugh recently lamented his team's lack of a reliable high-volume running back.

"I would love for us to be in that kind of a circumstance," Harbaugh said, per the team's official transcript . "A Derrick Henry circumstance or a Saquon Barkley circumstance or whatever it might be. That would be great, and we haven't.

Adding Taylor would give Harbaugh exactly the sort of every-down running back he wants. It would help the Giants navigate the rest of the season without Dart and would give them another centerpiece player around whom to build moving forward.

With all due respect to Skattebo, New York would probably feel much better about heading into 2027 with an offensive core of Dart, Taylor, and Malik Nabers.

While joining the Giants wouldn't give Taylor the chance to chase a championship in 2026, it might just put him in the playoffs. And it would allow him to be part of a promising rebuild in a big market for the first time in his career.

Taylor, it's worth noting, played his high school ball roughly two hours away form MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Taylor could prefer a return to the Midwest over a return to Jersey, given his experience as a star at Wisconsin. However, the Green Bay Packers might not be an ideal fit, now that Josh Jacobs has been removed from the commissioner's exempt list.

The Packers may not want to part with more high-end draft capital, as they still owe the Dallas Cowboys their 2027 first-rounder as part of the Micah Parsons trade.

Joining the Vikings in Minnesota might appeal to Taylor, though, and not just because of its locale. The Vikings are one of just three undefeated teams left in 2026, they have a championship-caliber defense, and they have a bevy of other playmakers in a potent Kevin O'Connell offense.

Taylor might get the chance to chase a Super Bowl in Minnesota, and he'd frequently face lighter boxes with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson threatening defenses deep.

The Vikings could use a back of Taylor's caliber, too. They're still trying to get new quarterback Kyler Murray into a rhythm, and if/when they do, a backfield featuring Murray and Taylor could be extremely dangerous.

Aaron Jones Sr. has been a fine starter for Minnesota thus far, but he missed time due to injury last season, will turn 32 in December, and will be a free agent in 2027. Jordan Mason is a capable complement and has been designated to return from his thumb injury, but he's also in a contract year.

Acquiring Taylor could give Minnesota an elite rushing attack in 2026 while also being a smart long-term play.

The Cincinnati Bengals may seem like an odd fit for Taylor at first blush. Cincinnati has a potent offense led by Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. It has also had a very productive starter in Chase Brown in recent years.

However, Brown hasn't been very efficient this season (3.5 yards per carry), and the Bengals have looked for other ways to spark their 28th-ranked rushing attack.

"We got to be better," head coach Zac Taylor said following the Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, per Pat Brennan of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Especially after watching the tape, it's disappointing some of the plays we left out there. …We will be better moving forward."

Against the Miami Dolphins in Week 5, the Bengals found a spark by leaning on No. 2 back Samaje Perine. However, Perine has never been the sort of high-volume back that Taylor is, and he'll be a free agent in 2027, along with Brown.

Adding Taylor would give Burrow the sort of top-tier run support that he's rarely had in his NFL career. It would help Cincinnati potentially chase a championship this season while also stabilizing its backfield in 2027. And while adding him would be the sort of aggressive move the Bengals haven't historically made, they have taken a different approach this season.

The Bengals have made it clear that they're ready to maximize their window with Burrow now. They traded the 10th overall pick for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in the offseason, and they spent money on defensive free agents like Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, and Bryan Cook.

Turning back to the offensive side of the ball to add Taylor could be the move that finally makes Burrow and the Bengals perennial contenders.