The Indianapolis Colts spent big this offseason. They locked up Daniel Jones on an $88 million deal. They gave Alec Pierce $116 million to keep him as the primary target. On paper, they look like a team going all in for 2026. But one NFL analyst thinks the Colts might still rip up that script and trade their star running back.
ESPN’s Ben Solak dropped a series of bold predictions this week, and he zeroed in on Jonathan Taylor. Solak’s argument is simple: Taylor is playing on the final year of his current deal, and paying a running back a third contract is almost unheard of. Even elite ones rarely get that treatment anymore.
Solak laid out the scenario like this: if the Colts stumble out of the gate and the front office starts thinking about a reset, Taylor becomes one of the most attractive rental pieces on the market. His 2025 season showed he still has that explosive gear. The key would be managing his workload better, but a contender looking for a hammer at running back could absolutely bite.
He specifically mentioned the Bears as a possible landing spot. Chicago already has D’Andre Swift as a change-of-pace option. Pairing Swift with a true bell cow like Taylor would give that offense a completely different dimension.
What’s really going on in Indianapolis
The Colts are a tough team to read right now. New ownership is still settling in. The head coach and general manager are both on hot seats. And the quarterback situation is still a question mark even after committing big money to Jones. That’s a lot of uncertainty for a team that just spent like they’re one piece away.
Solak summed it up pretty well: the Colts could go either way in 2026. They could be aggressive and compete, or they could blow it up entirely. Either way, Taylor’s situation will force a decision eventually. Whether that happens at the trade deadline this fall or next offseason, the Colts will have to decide if they want to pay a running back a third time. History says they probably won’t.
It’s worth watching Taylor’s name as the season develops. If the Colts look shaky early, the phone calls will come.
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