Analysts Suggest Bengals Target Jonathan Taylor Before Trade Deadline

The NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10 is approaching, and analysts are focusing on the Indianapolis Colts' All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor as a top target. The Colts, who dismissed general manager Chris Ballard and sit at 2-5 after a recent loss, are expected to consider moving Taylor as part of a rebuild.

Cincinnati, now 4-2 and fresh off a comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens, has struggled in the rushing game, averaging just 82.9 yards per contest and ranking in the league's bottom third. Quarterback Joe Burrow threw four touchdowns in the second half of the Ravens game, but the Bengals' ground attack remains limited, with running backs Chase Brown and Samaje Perine posting sub-4.0 yards per carry.

Taylor, who has recorded 11 explosive runs and averages 2.89 yards per carry after contact this season, is viewed as a potential solution. Analysts compare the possible move to the San Francisco 49ers' acquisition of Christian McCaffrey before the 2022 deadline, which helped the team reach the NFC Championship and a recent Super Bowl appearance.

If the Bengals decide to pursue the trade, they would need to outbid other interested clubs before the deadline, with the Colts projected to finish the season at 2-7 and likely to sell high-value assets.

"Taylor could be the missing piece that puts us back in the Super Bowl conversation," said a Bengals insider familiar with the team's roster strategy.

The article also highlighted other Week 7 performances, including Cam Skattebo's overtime heroics for the Giants, the Miami Dolphins' first win under coach Jeff Hafley, and notable defensive plays by the Vikings and Falcons. It noted several game-changing moments, such as a failed fourth-down attempt by the Ravens and a series of errors that contributed to the Carolina Panthers' loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.