Colts: Jonathan Taylor makes chess move before crucial moment of career
Last year was a forgettable season for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. The All-Pro rusher suffered an injury-riddled campaign in the midst of a season where the Colts made a coaching change. The game of musical chairs at quarterback likely didn't help, either. Nonetheless, Taylor only played in 11 games. He also produced career […]
Last year was a forgettable season for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. The All-Pro rusher suffered an injury-riddled campaign in the midst of a season where the Colts made a coaching change.
The game of musical chairs at quarterback likely didn't help, either. Nonetheless, Taylor only played in 11 games. He also produced career lows in rushing yards and touchdowns. It was far from his first-team All-Pro season in 2021.
First-year head coach Shane Steichen and rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson will be counting on Taylor when the 2022 NFL season kicks off. His talents make both of their jobs easier. Which, as a result, should result in more wins.
But first, Taylor is taking care of his own business. The 2019 second-round draft selection is nearing the end of his rookie contract. In fact, Taylor is eligible for a contract extension this offseason.
Which means that Taylor will be looking to cash-in in the near future. He has an All-Pro selection on his resume and is arguably the best player on the team. Therefore, he has made the decision to change agents ahead of the negotiations.
It makes sense for Taylor. The running back market is not exactly friendly right now, and the Colts are under new leadership on the coaching staff. So, Taylor wants to make sure that he is taken care of after leading the league in rushing two seasons ago.
Fortunately, Taylor has addressed the topic recently. And he doesn't view it as all too big of a deal. He certainly wants to get paid for his work, but the Pro Bowler won't allow it to be a distraction.
“It wouldn’t be a distraction to me," Taylor said. "I’m under contract here for four years. I put the pen to the paper … I made an obligation to them. They made an obligation to me. But things will happen naturally.”
The possible contact extension and negotiations will be something to monitor for the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis has a relatively deep running backs room, but there is no doubt that both Steichen and Richardson would benefit from having 28 on the field.
