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Colts running back Jonathan Taylor might see himself in a new uniform come this year’s trade deadline — and a few teams are already showing interest.
Multiple organizations throughout the NFL said they would be open to trading for Taylor, ESPN reported Thursday, but it’s uncertain that the Colts, who are 2-4 this season, would be definitive sellers.
Taylor, 27, is having another stellar season for Indianapolis, already racking up 492 rushing yards with seven touchdowns in six games.
He admitted, however, that he has not given a potential trade “any thought,” adding that he’s focused on the Colts’ game against the Vikings on Sunday.
“I haven’t given any thought,” Taylor told reporters about his future. “That’d be crazy right now, especially because we’ve got a great Minnesota Vikings team that we have to go against.
“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, whom the Colts drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, has established himself as one of the league’s premier running backs in Indianapolis, earning three Pro Bowl trips along with being named All-Pro in 2021.
He signed a two-year, $44 million contract before this season started.
The specific teams potentially interested in Taylor have been named as the Nov. 10 trade deadline nears.
The speculation surrounding Taylor comes after the Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard on Monday after their embarrassing 26-20 loss to the previously winless Titans.
Ballard, who took over as GM in 2017, did not experience much success after the retirement of franchise QB Andrew Luck in 2019. In the years since, Indianapolis has reached the postseason just once and has finished only two seasons with a winning record.
“I am grateful to Chris for his years of service to the Colts and for everything he poured into this organization. He cared deeply about our team and our community, and we wish Chris and his family all the best,” Colts co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in a statement.
“As I said at the start of the season, the sense of urgency has never been higher. Our standard is to compete for championships, and I believe a change in leadership is necessary to meet that standard. Making this change during the season was a deliberate decision. Waiting would only delay the important work that needs to begin now.
“We will conduct a thorough search for our next general manager and take the time necessary to identify the right leader for the future of this organization.”