NFL Insider Jason La Canfora: Colts Eye 3-4 More Trades & Seek Second-Round Pick for Jonathan Taylor

The Indianapolis Colts have already traded their best offensive and defensive linemen. With just days remaining until the trade deadline, they have little time left to shed more payroll, and from what we’re hearing, they’re only just getting started.

No team has signaled a greater willingness to sell ahead of the trade deadline than the Colts, with ownership seemingly determined to give its new regime as much draft capital and financial flexibility as possible to rebuild the roster.

Everything is on the table, and beyond the ongoing trade discussions, we’ve heard that former first-round pick Anthony Richardson could also see time at quarterback, with highly paid starter Daniel Jones still struggling with the effects of the Achilles injury that ended his 2025 season.

Colts Preparing Mass Sale Ahead of NFL Trade Deadline

The focus in Indianapolis is now on securing maximum returns for the high-priced veterans still on the roster, having already traded guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. 

As the Colts sit at 2-5, the remainder of their 2026 season will be about rebuilding the roster, evaluating younger players and protecting those on expensive contracts from further injury, such as Daniel Jones.

“She seems perfectly fine tearing it down to the studs,” said a high-ranking team official from a club that has been in contact with the Colts, alluding to their very hands-on owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon. “They are motivated to move.”

Colts Seeking Second-Round Pick for Jonathan Taylor

The biggest question is whether the teardown will include perennial All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor. We’d be quite surprised if it did not. It’s a position of extreme attrition and the Colts are making it extremely clear they are going to need a few years to reposition themselves as contenders.

Taylor isn’t old at 27, but he needs another contract extension to be assured of being in Indianapolis whenever the Colts are good again.

“He’s making $1M a game for the next two years (2027, 2028), essentially, with only one year guaranteed,” as one NFL salary cap/negotiating exec put it when he was sizing up the Colts’ trade options with me a few weeks back.  “That’s a very attractive contract on the buy-side.” 

One NFL general manager told me that he believes the Colts want a second-round pick for Taylor, stating that he thinks “that’s a reasonable ask.” As to which team wants to make that leap, it remains to be seen. 

The rate of injuries at that position likely prompts the Colts to take this down to the wire. One exec suggested the Broncos, who have tried quite a few options at running back under Sean Payton without sustaining the consistent ground game he covets. Regardless, I expect him to be traded.

Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward Among More Expected Colts Departures

Sauce Gardner is likely to return from a more minor injury in Week 8 and the Colts would have to be willing to assume salary to facilitate a trade as he’s guaranteed $26M next season, but between him and Charvarius Ward who is due $18M in 2027 with no guarantees, something is going to give.

“Oh, I think they want to move a corner,” the high-ranking official said. It would be quite surprising if the Colts did not trade at least one wide receiver. Josh Downs made headlines with his trade request coming to light, and veteran Keenan Allen, who just signed there a few months ago, is someone else the team is very open to moving though he is not expected to command a big return.

Given the tenor of their season and the interest in their players and the fact that the entire overarching organizational focus is truly on roster reconstruction right now more than winning games down the stretch of a hapless campaign, there is every reason to believe at least another 3-4 deals are forthcoming.