Colts RB Depth Chart: Jonathan Taylor Finishes 2023 Stronger Than Ever
The Indianapolis Colts had some turmoil at the running back position heading into last year's training camp. Now with superstar Jonathan Taylor locked in long-term, the Colts can finally focus on the bright future ahead with him next to Anthony Richardson.
The 2023 season was a bit of a mixed bag for the Colts' running backs. Taylor missed the first chunk of the season due to an injury/contract negotiations and didn't see the field until week seven. He missed even more time down the stretch due to a thumb injury, which limited him to a total of just seven starts on the year (10 games appeared in).
The injury front is a bit concerning but Taylor did end the year on a high note. The Colts locked in the superstar to a three year extension, and he closed out the year with his best performance since his dominant 2021 campaign. He ran the ball 30 times for 188 yards and a touchdown in the Colts' narrow week 18 loss to the Houston Texans. If he can ride that high into next season, it could spell trouble for the rest of the AFC.
Veteran Zack Moss carried the load in Taylor's absence last season, and he started the year on a blistering pace. He ranked top five in the league in rushing yards for the first half of the year before tailing off once Taylor returned. Still, Moss ran for a career-high 794 yards and five touchdowns for the Colts in 2023.
Young running backs Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson also had some positive moments last year, most notably when they carried the Colts' rushing attack down the stretch in a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The top of the Colts' running back depth chart is set heading into the offseason but could we see some movement with the bottom of this group?
Running Backs Under Contract
Starter: Jonathan Taylor (3 years remaining on contract)
The Colts have their top guy locked in for the near and distant future. It was a brutal couple of months of negotiations, but the Colts finally locked up Taylor at the halfway point of the year. All that speculation about a trade or him leaving in free agency is officially a thing of the past.
Taylor has been a superstar for the Colts since the moment they drafted him. He rushed for over 1,000 yards as a rookie in 2020 and then followed that up with the greatest season by a Colts' running back in this storied franchise's history. He has dealt with injuries the past two years, but he has still remained an explosive force for defenses to account for.
The potential that this offense has with both Richardson and Taylor in the backfield is truly scary.
Depth: Tyler Goodson (1 year remaining on contract)
The Colts quietly inked Goodson to a two-year contract when they promoted him to the active roster this season, meaning that he has one year remaining on his deal. The 23 year old running back was fairly productive in limited playing time last season, touching the ball 19 times for 121 yards (6.3 yards per touch) on offense.
Goodson's season will sadly be remembered for his role on the final play against the Texans in week 18, but he did do some good work in limited playing time. He won't be the team's primary backup to Taylor in 2024, but he has a chance to earn a roster spot next year in training camp.
Depth: Evan Hull (3 years remaining on contract)
2023 fifth round pick Evan Hull is still under contract with the Colts heading into this upcoming offseason. Hull, 23, had his rookie campaign cut short due to an injury suffered in week one against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was limited to a grand total of just two touches for seven yards in 2023.
Hull, like Goodson, will have a chance to earn a roster spot heading into camp in 2024. The organization has high hopes for him as a pass catcher out of the backfield, so hopefully he can recover from this injury and earn that RB3/RB4 role for next season.
*2023 UDFA Running back Zavier Scott was also signed to a one-year futures deal this offseason, making him the fourth and final running back currently on the roster.
Running Backs with Expiring Contract
Zack Moss (UFA)
Veteran Zack Moss is the Colts' lone unrestricted free agent at the position. Moss was fantastic for the team in 2023, as he carried the load for the rushing attack in his 10 starts. Moss has a chance to get a legit contract in free agency, which could hurt his chances at returning to the team.
Moss' agency has publicly stated that they would love to see him return to the Colts, but they also implied that they would be looking for a deal similar to David Montgomery's in average salary. That might be a little tough for the Colts to get done considering what they just paid Taylor.
Trey Sermon (RFA)
The other upcoming free agent the Colts need to work with is Trey Sermon. Sermon's contract should be a tad easier for the team to manage with his restricted status, so it is very likely that he will be back in Indy for the 2024 offseason.
There is a realistic scenario where Sermon is the Colts' RB2 heading into training camp. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry on 35 rushes in 2023, and he improved exponentially as the year went along. He is more of a two-down bruiser type, but he showed some great flashes in reserve for the Colts in 2023.
Depth Options in Free Agency
Antonio Gibson (Washington Commanders UFA)
The best option for the Colts in free agency is easily Anthonio Gibson. He has the size and the versatility that Indy should be looking for, and he shouldn't cost too much coming off of a down year in Washington. If the Colts can get this former 1,000 yard running back on the cheap, it could be the perfect fit in free agency.
Gibson was phased out of the Commanders' offense this past season but he still offers some juice as a playmaker. He has caught 35+ passes in all four of his NFL seasons and has shown the ability to make some things happen with the ball in his hands. The Commanders were also one of just a few teams that operated out of the gun as much as the Colts did in 2023, meaning that Gibson has some familiarity in a gun-oriented offense.
Boston Scott (Philadelphia Eagles UFA)
If the Colts want to dip back into the 'former Shane Steichen players' well, they could look into Boston Scott in free agency. The 28 year old running back has mostly served as a reserve back in Philly in his career, but the Colts could lure him to Indy with a chance at an increased role behind Jonathan Taylor.
Scott has hardly seen the field in his NFL career. He has yet to have a season in which he carried the ball over 100 times, with his career high being 87 rush attempts back in 2021. Scott isn't a player that moves the needle by any means, but a career 4.3 yards per carry rusher wouldn't hurt to add for competition this summer.
Depth Options in the Draft
Braelon Allen (Wisconsin)
We all know how much General Manager Chris Ballard loves Wisconsin players, so why not bring in another hyper productive running back from his alma mater? Allen, 20, is one of the youngest players in this upcoming draft despite having a ton of tread on his running back tires (over 600 touches in college). He is far from a complete player on film, but he has the size and speed that the Colts are looking for in a backup running back.
Isaiah Davis (South Dakota State)
A running back in this class that is extremely similar in style to Zack Moss is Isaiah Davis out of South Dakota State. As a member of the two-time national champion Jackrabbits, Davis rushed for over 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns over the past two seasons as a starter. He is a big, powerful rusher that finishes runs with authority in between the tackles. That style of back would be a perfect compliment to the superstar ability of Jonathan Taylor.
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