Broncos Interested in RB Jonathan Taylor? Conflicting Reports Emerge

The Indianapolis Colts have reportedly granted running back Jonathan Taylor's request to seek a trade. Taylor wants a new contract, and the Colts, up to this point, have been unwilling to oblige the 2021 NFL rushing champion.

Since granting Taylor's request, the Colts have been receiving trade inquiries. Among the interested are the Denver Broncos, per 104.3 The FAN's Cecil Lammey.

"I'm told the 2 teams most interested are Miami and Denver," Lammey tweeted on Thursday.

I'm told the 2 teams most interested are Miami and Denver
— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) August 23, 2023

KOARadio's Benjamin Allbright did some digging and reported what one Broncos source told him about the team's purported interest in Taylor.

"Source confirms while the Broncos love Jonathan Taylor's talent, they have not pursued a trade for him," Allbright tweeted on Thursday afternoon.

Source confirms while the Broncos love Jonathan Taylor's talent, they have not pursued a trade for him. https://t.co/g84FctCC4Q
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) August 24, 2023

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Considering how the Broncos' running back battle has coalesced this summer, it doesn't seem like a roster need. But then again, Taylor is a next-level talent and he's only 24 years old.

The Colts drafted Taylor in the second round in 2020 out of Wisconsin. He rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie with just 13 starts.

Taylor followed that up with a massive second year, totaling 1,811 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, leading the NFL and earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. An injury ate into his third year, but he still rushed for 861 yards and four touchdowns in 11 starts.

Of all the productive veteran running backs the Broncos have been linked to in the NFL rumor mill this offseason, Taylor checks a lot of the boxes and is especially valuable because of his age. He did have a lot of carries at Wisconsin, and he's totaled nearly 900 touches in his three years as a pro, so there are some valid concerns about the tread left on his tires.

That concern, no doubt, explains the Colts' reluctance to extend Taylor. Meanwhile, the Broncos have a miraculously recovered Javonte Williams back in the saddle as RB1, backed by Samaje Perine, and undrafted rookie sensation Jaleel McLaughlin.

In the wake of Jerry Jeudy's scary injury in Thursday's practice, the Broncos would be wise to pump the brakes on any potential overtures on the Taylor front and budget those resources for a potential wide receiver acquisition.

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