The Denver Broncos are still in the running-back market ahead of November 10's NFL deadline, and Jonathan Taylor has become the name drawing the most attention. After Sunday’s 28-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos emerged as favorites to land him, but the Indianapolis Colts have not moved yet and may be waiting for a better offer.
That interest is getting louder because Taylor is not a rental. He signed a two-year, $44 million extension this summer, will make $15 million in 2027 and $9.46 million in 2028, and turns 28 in January. For a player with that contract profile, any trade would have to clear a high bar, especially with a deadline approaching fast.
’s Adam Schefter reported that the Colts have already received at least one offer of a second-round pick plus additional compensation for Taylor. What that extra compensation is has not been made public, but it is part of the value equation Indianapolis is using while it holds out. Ian Rapoport went further on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, saying Indianapolis is looking for a first-round offer to part with its Pro Bowl back.
That is where the market gets tricky for Denver. The Broncos have only made two first-round picks in the past five years, and they have already spent heavily in the kind of aggressive moves that define their recent roster building, including costly trades involving Russell Wilson, Sean Payton and Jaylen Waddle. A first-round ask does not automatically rule out a deal, but it makes the price far more serious than the initial buzz around a second-round framework.
The Colts have not pulled the trigger on anything yet, and the next clear checkpoint is November 10's NFL deadline. If Denver is truly the favorite, it will have to prove it is willing to meet Indianapolis at a level the Colts believe matches Taylor’s age, contract and production. If it is not, the noise around Jonathan Taylor and the Denver Broncos may end with the deadline rather than a trade.
