After a disappointing start to the season, the Indianapolis Colts are 2-4 with a loss to the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday; they may be in a position to trade some of their best players. The Cincinnati Bengals could benefit.
Jonathan Taylor has been one of the NFL's best running backs, and the Bengals could get him for a relatively low price. Their running game has struggled this season, with Chase Brown and Samaje Perine being rather inefficient with their opportunities. Part of it is the scheme, but a big part is a lack of vision, especially from Brown, who has made some questionable decisions with the ball.
The other factor is the Bengals' offensive line run-block win rate, which is among the best in the NFL. Cincinnati is wasting a revamped offensive line as Amarius Mims and Dylan Fairchild develop alongside the veteran presence of Ted Karras, Dalton Risner, and Orlando Brown Jr.
Taylor could take advantage of Cincinnati’s offensive line and help balance an elite passing game with a veteran ball carrier who can break tackles and pop explosive runs, something Cincinnati’s offense has struggled with.
The rub is that Cincinnati’s offense likes to use the run-pass option regularly, which takes wide receivers out of blocking roles on run plays and sends them on routes, so corners and safeties are in good positions to make tackles and prevent long runs.
Cincinnati would likely have to part with a day-two draft pick, either a second- or third-rounder, to acquire Taylor. Cincinnati has two third-round picks in 2027, one of which is a projected compensatory pick. It isn’t a first-round pick and wouldn’t tank the franchise's future, but it would be costly, given that the Bengals recently took good players like Cashius Howell in the second round.
Maybe the Bengals can get away with sending a fourth-rounder, as the Colts are on the verge of a near rebuild. Their decision to go with quarterback Daniel Jones has not worked out, and their decision to trade two first-round picks for Sauce Gardner also hasn’t panned out, as he has been a disappointment and has struggled with injuries. Indianapolis could also settle for less given his contract.
He’s owed just under $7 million in 2026, but his extension kicks in next season, and he'll make around $16 million in 2027 and close to $18 million in 2028.
Nevertheless, Cincinnati has to do something about its running game, as a one-sided offense will make winning a Super Bowl difficult.