Jonathan Taylor has nowhere to go after Colts trade request
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor reportedly requested a trade after Jim Irsay's pointed comments about the running back market; that's all he can do, though, is ask. Taylor can't hold out. As a second-round pick, he's made $6,325,982 during the first three years of his career. Taylor is subject to a $40,000 fine for […]
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor reportedly requested a trade after Jim Irsay's pointed comments about the running back market; that's all he can do, though, is ask.
Taylor can't hold out. As a second-round pick, he's made $6,325,982 during the first three years of his career. Taylor is subject to a $40,000 fine for each day he misses training camp and the Colts have more than a dozen camp practices left on the schedule. Therefore, Taylor can accrue more than $480k in fines if he skips the rest of training camp.
That's almost 8% of Taylor's entire career earnings gone in the course of a couple weeks. And the Colts can't waive the fines. So, at best, Taylor can "hold-in", meaning, he'll show up to camp but stand on the sidelines and log "mental reps".
He also won't get paid if he sits out the season and he obviously can't trade himself. Based off what Irsay said Saturday night, it doesn't sound like at trade is happening, either.
But they key factor in Taylor's situation is the fact that he won't get the ever-valuable accrued fourth season if he sits out the year, or, is on the Colts roster -or any NFL roster- for less than six games. In order to hit unrestricted free agency, NFL players must have a minimum of four accrued seasons under their belt. An accrued season is a season in which said player is on an NFL roster in any shape or form for at least six games. That includes players on injured reserve, PUP, etc. Once they get their fourth season, they become "vested veterans", which comes with multiple advantages over restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents.
Therefore, Taylor would enter 2024 as a restricted free agent. What that means is the Colts would still have a big say in his market value. They could slap a first-round tender on Taylor, which is projected to be valued at $6.838 million in 2024 and any team interested in his services would have to match the offer plus give up a first-round pick.
It's safe to assume teams aren't going to want to spend a first-rounder on a running back in today's NFL. So, Taylor would be a year older, but also coming off a year out of the NFL and he'd only make around a little more than $2.5 million than what he's set to make in 2023.
And the most ironic part is the Colts could still franchise tag him if they wanted.
Ultimately, there's nothing Taylor can do in this situation. He is stuck with the Colts for as long as they want him to be there. All he can do is put his head down, go to work, and hope for the best in 2024.
What could the Colts realistically get for Jonathan Taylor?
Recent trends could supply an answer
Featured image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
