If you were the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, would you trade Jonathan Taylor? Your answer is likely “no.”
However, former Colts punter Pat McAfee said the team should part ways with the star running back (via Abhimanyu Chaudhary of pro football network.com).
“Jonathan Taylor, trade his f*****g a** out of town, he said in a segment on The Pat McAfee Show.“How do we go about doing [it]? You get a second-round pick? Sweet, first would be better.”
Sure, Taylor would be sent packing if McAfee was calling the shots in Indianapolis. But he’s not in the Colts front office. Taylor will likely not and should not be traded this offseason. He’s undoubtedly the team’s best offensive player and one of the NFL’s top running backs.
No, Pat McAfee, the Indianapolis Colts Should Not Trade Jonathan Taylor
Bounce-Back 2024 Season
Jonathan Taylor was at his best during the 2021 campaign. That season, led the league in both rushing yards (1,811) and rushing touchdowns (18). Taylor also made his first Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro. In addition, he finished as runner-up for AP Offensive Player of the Year.
Unfortunately, Taylor would get bitten by the injury bug the next two seasons, missing a combined 13 games. He failed to reach 1,000 yards in both years.
Taylor bounced back, though, this season. Rushing for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns, he made his second career Pro Bowl. He was one of the few bright spots for the Colts, who posted a disappointing 8-9 record and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
Taylor was phenomenal in the Week 16 win over the Tennessee Titans. The former Wisconsin Badger had a season-high 218 rushing yards to go along with three touchdowns. He ripped off touchdown runs of 65 and 70 yards. Taylor was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
He became the first Colts player to rush for over 200 yards and record three touchdowns in a game since Edgerrin James did so in 2000. Speaking of James, he is now the only player in franchise history with more rushing yards (9,226) than Taylor (6,013). Taylor moved up the Colts’ all-time leaderboard this season, surpassing legends Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, and Lydell Mitchell.