Denver Broncos May Reconsider Jonathan Taylor Trade as Colts Lower Price

The Indianapolis Colts are expected to move away from their initial demand for first-round draft capital in exchange for running back Jonathan Taylor, according to a report from Sports Illustrated.

This shift in negotiation strategy comes as the NFL trade deadline approaches on Tuesday, November 10. While the Broncos previously cooled on the prospect of a trade when the asking price was set at first-round value, the potential for a lower price tag could change their calculus.

The market for Taylor is shifting rapidly. The New York Giants have overtaken the Broncos as the favorites to land the running back, according to odds from Hard Rock Bet. Even the New England Patriots are emerging as suitors as the deadline nears.

Current betting odds suggest the most likely landing spots for Taylor are the Giants, the Colts, the Broncos, and the Minnesota Vikings.

The Colts face a difficult decision regarding Taylor’s age and workload. At nearly 28 years old, Taylor is approaching the 2,000-carry milestone, a threshold often associated with physical decline for professional running backs.

Teams are unlikely to surrender a first-round pick for a veteran back in this stage of his career. Instead, analysts suggest the deal may settle on a second-round selection supplemented by mid-to-late-round compensation.

Historical precedents for high-end running back trades show the scale of investment required. Four years ago, the San Francisco 49ers acquired Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-round picks.

However, the context of that trade differs from the current Taylor market. McCaffrey was younger at the time of the transaction and had a much longer runway before reaching high-volume career milestones.

The Broncos have other options if the Taylor market becomes too expensive. The team could pivot to established backs like Tennessee’s Tony Pollard or Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, though the supply of elite talent remains extremely limited.

The urgency for Denver to act before the Tuesday 2 p.m. MDT deadline is driven by the current state of their rushing attack. Rookie Jonah Coleman has emerged as the team's primary running back, but he faces heavy workload concerns.

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In a recent matchup against the Panthers, Coleman saw 17 carries. During that same game, J.K. Dobbins received only four carries.

Relying on a single rookie presents a high-risk scenario for the Broncos organization. Coleman has already spent four weeks on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, making the team's ability to sustain a productive run game without veteran support uncertain.

Last season serves as a cautionary example for Denver regarding the dangers of over-relying on a rookie back during the final stretch of the season. While Coleman is viewed as more capable of handling RB1 responsibilities than last year’s RJ Harvey, the structural vulnerabilities in the offense remain.

The Broncos’ front office must now decide if they will attempt to fix their blocking schemes during the upcoming bye week or commit draft capital to a veteran acquisition before the window closes.