The Indianapolis Colts are staring down a potential organizational rebuild after firing their long-time general manager Chris Ballard just six weeks into the 2026 NFL season.
The only question is about what kind of rebuild the Colts will look to orchestrate. Will they attempt to retool on the fly around some of their best players, or will they gut the team’s roster and try to start afresh during the 2027 NFL offseason?
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If the Colts take the latter path, they could end up being one of the power players ahead of the 2026 NFL trade deadline. They have a handful of valuable players who could be of use to contenders, with veteran running back Jonathan Taylor standing out among the potential trade assets.
Taylor has logged 587 rushing yards and a league-best eight rushing touchdowns on 140 carries through the first seven weeks of the season. The 27-year-old is on pace for his fourth NFL season with at least 1,500 scrimmage yards and has twice led the NFL in total touchdowns across his seven-year career to date.
Plenty of potential contenders are looking for running back help, and Taylor will likely be the best three-down playmaker on the open market. Who could consider trading for him? Here are six teams that could consider targeting Taylor, starting with a contender that could use a jolt on offense.
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The Vikings are the NFL’s last unbeaten team, but they will need to upgrade their offense to keep it that way. They rank 28th league-wide in offensive EPA per play, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, and have relied on the solid-but-uninspiring duo of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason to lead its rushing attack this season.
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Suffice it to say a three-down threat like Taylor would be a major upgrade for Minnesota’s offense. His presence would allow Kevin O’Connell to shift the Vikings toward a ground-and-pound offensive mentality that would complement Brian Flores’ aggressive, attacking-style defense well.
Taylor would also be a nice, long-term fit for the Vikings given his age (27) and the fact that he is under contract through the 2028 season. Jones is set to turn 32 in December while Mason, who is 27 like Taylor, will be a free agent after the season.
Seattle’s rushing offense hasn’t been the same in 2026 after losing Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. The Seahawks rank just 22nd in team rushing success rate, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, with a mark of 38.8% and have seen their running backs average just 3.6 yards per carry collectively this season.
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The Seahawks may be content to wait and see if the return of first-round rookie Jadarian Price and fourth-year veteran Zach Charbonnet can spark a resurgence in their running game. That said, the team’s initial pursuit of Joe Mixon highlighted it isn’t fully comfortable with what it has at running back, so perhaps John Schneider will be willing to pursue Taylor to improve Seattle’s chances of repeating as Super Bowl champions.
More: ‘Frustrated’ Kenneth Walker III didn’t shake hands with Seahawks after Chiefs’ loss
The Broncos have started the 2026 NFL season with a 5-2 record despite a lackluster showing from their offense. Their running game has been particularly troublesome. They rank 30th in rush success rate this season, and primary ball-carriers J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey have combined to average 3.4 yards per carry this season.
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Sean Payton may be content to see what fourth-round rookie Jonah Coleman can do in more of a lead-back role. He handled a team-high nine carries and turned them into 54 yards against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7.
But if the Broncos want to add more of a sure thing at running back, Taylor would fit the bill. He would take a lot of pressure off Bo Nix and allow the Broncos to marry a more consistent, possession-oriented offense with the team’s explosive defense.
The Giants’ running game broke out in Week 7 against the Houston Texans, as Cam Skattebo responded to his benching by racking up 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
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Will Skattebo’s breakout be enough to earn John Harbaugh’s trust long-term? Maybe, but given the success Harbaugh enjoyed with Derrick Henry in Baltimore, he can’t be ruled out from pursuing a player like Taylor, especially with the Giants having the inside track toward winning the NFC East.
Taylor and Skattebo would form a fearsome one-two punch at running back and allow J.J. McCarthy to operate in the game manager role for which he is best suited. That could help the Giants make a playoff push while also positioning them to properly support Jaxson Dart in 2027 when the 2025 first-round pick returns from a season-ending knee injury.
More: 7 NFL teams that should be buyers at 2026 trade deadline, including Chiefs
At 1-4-1, the Commanders may not look like a big-time buyer ahead of the 2026 NFL trade deadline. Still, they could kick the tires on Taylor given their dual need for a top-tier starting running back and for playmaking support surrounding Jayden Daniels.
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Pairing Daniels and Taylor together for at least a couple of seasons should be appealing for the Commanders. They could craft their offensive identity around Taylor’s three-down abilities and Daniels’ mobility, and adding a three-down back would mitigate the effects of losing Terry McLaurin to a torn patellar tendon.
It’s also worth noting Commanders coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters are on relatively hot seats and need to start stringing some wins together to have a chance at retaining their jobs beyond this season. Adding Taylor would help them do that while also providing the team with a needed, long-term upgrade at running back.
OK, look – the Packers probably won’t pursue Taylor now that Josh Jacobs is back from the commissioner’s exempt list. However, if Green Bay is worried about Jacobs facing an additional suspension for his offseason arrest, it could acquire an insurance option at the running back position.
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Taylor would represent the high-end range for the Packers to consider, and it’s fun to imagine how their offense would look with two big-time threats at the running back position. But more likely, the Packers will look to acquire a lower-priced veteran – like Tyjae Spears or Kimani Vidal – who can serve as an upgrade over MarShawn Lloyd (2.6 yards per carry) behind Jacobs.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best Jonathan Taylor landing spots as trade rumors swirl around Colts RB
