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Colts Give Jonathan Taylor Permission To Seek Trade
The Colts have given All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade. Other teams now are weighing whether to make an offer to the Colts and what would be fair value for the running back, who led the NFL in rushing in 2021 and has 3,841 rushing yards in his first NFL seasons.

The Colts are asking for a first-round draft pick or multiple draft picks that would be the equivalent of a first-round pick, a source told ESPN's Stephen Holder. As NFL Network's Tom Pelissero notes, the Panthers got four draft picks last October for Christian McCaffrey, including a second-rounder. Pelissero contends the Colts would want more to part with Taylor, and that’s just one reason it’s tough to find a trade partner.

Taylor has been seeking a contract extension since before training camp. When the Colts declined to engage Taylor on a new deal, he requested a trade as his relationship with the team began to sour. Colts owner Jim Irsay, however, publicly denied Taylor's trade request.

“We’re not trading Jonathan. ... End of discussion,” Colts owner Jim Irsay said on July 29. “Not now and not in October!”

So what's changed?

Maybe nothing. Maybe a lot.

As Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio suggests, any trade will have two clear prongs: (1) what the Colts wants in trade; and (2) what Taylor wants in a contract.

The goal could be to let Taylor realize that, even if there’s a team that will placate the Colts, there might be no one to satisfy Taylor’s financial expectations.

That could result in Taylor realizing that his best play will be to play for $4.3 million this year, have a big season, and try to work something out next March, with the Colts or someone else.

There is at least one team that has a potential interest in trading for Taylor.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins are expected to explore a deal for Taylor.

Jackson notes that he’s not sure what the Dolphins would offer the Colts for Taylor. But Miami does like that Taylor is young and in his prime.

In case you haven't been following along, Taylor was away from the team for part of training camp, receiving treatment while he continued to recover from ankle surgery he had in January. Once he returned to camp, the running back remained on the team's physically unable to perform list. He was later excused from camp for a second time due to a personal matter.

Now, he will be able to look for a new team.