Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has seen his name in trade rumors for the past 24 hours or so after it was reported on Monday that the Colts have given him permission to seek a trade. Miami Dolphins insider Barry Jackson offered an early update on the team’s possible pursuit of Taylor.
There has been a spirited, emotional, gyrating, loud 30 minute debate in Dolphins media room about whether Miami should pursue Jonathan Taylor. Not my place to say where my colleagues stand, but I'm in favor of pursuing any 24 year old who is top 5, 6 player at his position.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) August 22, 2023
Too early to tell. They're exploring
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) August 22, 2023
Taylor, 24, was selected with the No. 41 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and has played three seasons in the NFL, all as a member of the Colts franchise. He ran for 861 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games played during the 2022 regular season (all starts).
His contributions didn’t translate to a whole lot of wins, however, as the Colts finished the 2022 regular season with a poor 4-12-1 record, the second-worst in the AFC South, ahead of only the Houston Texans.
For as solid as Taylor’s 2022 season was, it paled in comparison to his 2021 season, the best of his pro career to this point. Taylor put up monster numbers during the 2021 regular season.
He played all 17 games during the 2021 regular season and led the entire league in rushing yards (1,811 yards), rushing touchdowns (18 touchdowns) and rushing yards per game (106.5 yards).
These numbers were good enough for the 5-foot-10 running back to finish second in the 2021 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year voting. Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp finished in first place with 35 votes, but Taylor received more votes than quarterbacks Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, who finished in third and fourth place, respectively.
The Dolphins would be wise to pursue a trade for Taylor. After all, he’s one of the best running backs in the league right now and is only 24 years old, meaning he likely still has his best years ahead of him. Here’s to hoping that Taylor will be a Dolphin by the time the 2023 regular season kicks off next month.
