Colts turning down Jonathan Taylor trade offer reveals true asking price

Colts turning down Jonathan Taylor trade offer reveals true asking price originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Indianapolis Colts are a team drawing the attention of every other franchise in the NFL this season, as they’re potentially major trade deadline sellers.

They’ve already shipped off Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, and now, star running back Jonathan Taylor could be joining them on the move to a new team this season. While the demands are high, what actually are the Colts asking for?

Well, with The Ringers’ Tom Pelissero reporting that the Colts have already turned down quite the aggressive trade offer, the Colts’ true asking price has been revealed. Unfortunately for interested teams, it’s a lot more than just a second-round pick.

Colts true asking price for Jonathan Taylor revealed after declining one trade offer

“The Colts already turned down a 2027 second-round pick plus an additional pick for RB Jonathan Taylor, making it clear they’d want a premium to trade the face of the franchise,” Pelissero reports.

This is a huge report for the Colts, as it reveals what the Colts likely want for their star running back. They’ve already been offered a 2027 second-round pick.

If they accepted that offer, there would be praise for the Colts in landing a strong pick for a player who is getting older and at a non-premium position.

But the Colts want more. They already declined a 2027 second-round pick, with another pick thrown into the trade offer. So, that either means that second pick wasn’t good enough, or that they’re holding out for a first-rounder.

Even if that first-round pick comes in 2028, the Colts could be holding out for first-round draft capital after already declining a 2027 second-round pick.

So, with the trade offer being declined in mind, the Colts’ true asking price for Taylor has likely been revealed.

MORE: NFL insiders reveal four landing spots for Colts‘ Jonathan Taylor

Carlie Irsay-Gordon likely wants a first-round pick for Taylor, as they’ve already declined a second-round pick offer. Or, they are okay with a second-round pick, but want a strong piece coming back, like another second-rounder or a third-rounder.

The Colts can hold off on trading Taylor, as he’s not on an expiring contract. That gives them some leverage, and with the rest of the RB trade market pretty barren other than Tony Pollard, the Colts can demand such a high asking price for Taylor.

Based on this report and all of the reporting before it, if Taylor is dealt, it likely will be for at minimum a second-round pick with quite another valuable asset on top of it, if not a first-rounder.

This fascinating trade saga with Taylor is only going to get more interesting as the deadline approaches.

A little over one week out, and the Colts want a lot more than just a second-round pick, as they’ve already declined an offer with a second-rounder.

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