NFL Trade Rumors: Would Rams trade for Jonathon Taylor?

Why would the Colts do this?

The Indianapolis Colts are looking to rebuild around their new head coach, a coach that has yet to be named. One of the problems as noted above with the Colts is the fact that the team believes that Taylor expects to set the standard for running back contracts at the end of the 2023 NFL season.

The Colts would be losing the explosive production of Taylor for what amounts to one NFL season, and in the process add currency to address their more vital needs. The Colts have 5-foot-9, 205-pound running back Zack Moss waiting in the wings, and he was able to step up for the Colts in Taylor’s absence.

The Colts are not ‘there’ yet, and keeping Taylor, while productive, would not move the needle as much in terms of wins in 2023. Running backs are less impactful in the modern NFL, and the Indianapolis Colts must prioritize getting a quarterback first and foremost. In the meantime, they could come to the conclusion that trading Taylor now and avoiding that difficult salary negotiation at the end of the 2023 NFL season is worth the effort.

Why would the Rams do this?

The LA Rams tried and fell short in the trade for Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey. Their bid was shy of the 49ers’ bid of a 2023 second-, third-, and fourth-round picks, plus a 2024 fifth-round pick. The Rams, having traded their 2023 fourth-round pick previously, could not match that offer.

In my mind, Taylor is a better running back and is easier on the Rams’ salary cap to boot. In fact, the LA Rams love to add All-Pro veterans to their roster, and Jonathan Taylor earned that distinction in just his second season.

The Rams offense, we painfully discovered in 2022, begins with a strong running game. That has really not been the case since former star running back Todd Gurley was released after his knees could no longer keep up the all-purpose back role that he excelled at in the Rams’ offense. Is the 37th overall pick a costly pick? To Colts fans, it’s not enough. But to Rams fans, that pick could land a star offensive lineman. Is there some way to make this deal more friendly for both teams?