Indianapolis Colts star working again Jonathan Taylor has reported to the workforce’s coaching camp on the eve of official kickoff—regardless of publicly expressing his disappointment with the current high working again free agent market, and getting into a contract 12 months:
There was a minimum of some nationwide faculty of thought that Taylor might maintain out for a bit to let his additional displeasure recognized concerning the league’s valuation of elite working backs and in solidarity together with his fellow high rushers (after a current reported Zoom name):
With Saquon Barkley locked in, all eyes flip to a different gifted again: #Colts RB Jonathan Taylor, who has but to indicate up in Indy. He was visibly annoyed with the scenario on the RBs zoom name and it’s clear he desires to be correctly compensated. A scenario to observe.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2023
That being stated, Taylor is enjoying on the final 12 months of his rookie contract, as a former 2020 second spherical decide—so the scenario is a bit totally different than what it was for the New York Giants Saquon Barkley, who was in any other case going through the franchise tag this 12 months, and as a substitute elected to acquire a slight pay increase on a one-year, as much as $11M deal (*which admittedly feels gentle).
Coming off an damage restricted 2022 season, it most likely wasn’t in Taylor’s finest pursuits to carry out and have a sluggish begin out of the gates. If he can have a rebound marketing campaign, even remotely much like his 2021 season, by which he led the league in carries (332), dashing yards (1,811), and dashing touchdowns (18), he might reset the working again market and acquire the best contract in league historical past on the place—no matter which may be now.
Taylor must be aided this 12 months by the a lot anticipated arrival of high rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, whose mobility ought to complement him nicely within the RPO recreation and has the sturdy arm to maintain opposing defenses trustworthy from stacking the field.
Colts basic supervisor Chris Ballard has re-signed Indy’s different high homegrown gamers on a listing that features Shaquille Leonard and Quenton Nelson—that are different non-premium NFL positions, so it’ll be attention-grabbing to see the place he in the end lands on Taylor long-term.
The Colts wage cap scenario must be helped by the truth that Richardson is enjoying on a rookie scale contract, that means there could also be some alternative to frontload Taylor’s contract on a multi-year deal and soften the blow on the backend—when his inevitable decline on the place happens.
