Colts Delay Trade Decisions on Jonathan Taylor and Others Until After Sunday Game
Indianapolis is waiting until after its Sunday matchup with Dallas before deciding on potential trades involving running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Josh Downs and defensive tackle Grover Stewart.
The Indianapolis Colts said they have received "plenty of calls" on several players, including three-time Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor, but plan to wait until after their home game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday before making any trade decisions. NFL insider Jordan Schultz indicated that the fates of Taylor, wide receiver Josh Downs and defensive tackle Grover Stewart will likely be resolved early next week.
The 2-6 Colts have already moved left guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third-round and a 2028 fifth-round pick, and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2027 fourth-round pick. The team also dismissed general manager Chris Ballard after nine seasons, with assistant GM Ed Dodds assuming interim duties.
The franchise is in the midst of a rebuild after four consecutive losses, including a 42-7 defeat to the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars. While the future of Taylor in Indianapolis appears uncertain, the organization hopes to secure a substantial return, citing the 2022 trade of Christian McCaffrey as a benchmark.
Taylor, a four-time 1,000-yard rusher and two-time league touchdown leader, has recorded 812 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns in eight games this season. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Colts are targeting a deal comparable to the McCaffrey trade that yielded multiple draft picks.
Earlier reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter listed the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers as interested parties. Wide receiver Josh Downs, who has already requested a trade, is in the final year of his rookie contract and has 30 catches for 330 yards and a touchdown this season, after a career-high 72 receptions for 803 yards in 2024. Defensive tackle Grover Stewart, in the final year of a three-year, $39 million contract, has posted 26 tackles, three quarterback hits and half a sack in eight games. > "Stewart might be a little tougher to deal, since his base salary this year is $11.74 million, so an acquiring team would need to be able to fit about half that under its salary cap," wrote ESPN’s Dan Graziano.