Inside The Vikings

Why There's Zero Chance the Vikings Trade For Jonathan Taylor

It's just not a move that makes any sense for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to make.
Will Ragatz|
Why There's Zero Chance the Vikings Trade For Jonathan Taylor
Why There's Zero Chance the Vikings Trade For Jonathan Taylor

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Minnesota Vikings

The Colts have granted star RB Jonathan Taylor's request to seek a trade, but it's unclear how this situation might be resolved. The team is reportedly seeking a first-round pick or an equivalent package, which they seem unlikely to receive. Taylor's injury history — he's coming off ankle surgery — also complicates things.

Interestingly, both DraftKings and BetOnline have the Vikings ninth in their odds to be Taylor's next team.

I can see how, on the surface, the thought might arise that the post-Dalvin Cook Vikings, coming off a 13-win season, could be a potential suitor for Taylor.

But it's just not happening. 

There is zero chance that GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who released Cook to get cheaper at the position, gives up significant assets for a player who is seeking an expensive new contract. That's the tough thing about the idea of trading for Taylor, as good as he is when healthy: Not only would you have to give up assets to acquire him, you'd have to then sign him to a big-money extension to make him happy. This whole Colts/Taylor saga began because the 2021 NFL rushing leader is unsatisfied with the team's unwillingness to extend him before he heads into the final year of his rookie contract.

Maybe Taylor eventually returns to the Colts. Maybe he's traded somewhere. It's just not going to be Minnesota. Alexander Mattison was re-signed to lead the Vikings' backfield, and Adofo-Mensah's analytics background tells you he's not going to be signing a running back to a huge contract anytime soon. The only way trading for Taylor would make sense would be if the Vikings believed they were a piece away from Super Bowl contention, which isn't the case.

If the Vikings do add to their RB room — which is currently led by Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler — it'll be via signing a free agent to a fairly cheap deal.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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