ESPN Asks whether Extending Jonathan Taylor Was A Right Move

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell questioned whether it was the proper decision to extend Jonathan’s contract with the Indianapolis Colts.

The impact Jonathan Taylor brought to the Indianapolis Colts during his first two seasons with the franchise cannot be questioned. He easily led the NFL in running in 2021, but he missed most of the previous campaign due to injury.

Taylor is the only well-known running back to secure a contract extension out of the group of players that sought one over the offseason.

In his analysis of the NFL’s running back scenario for 2024, Bill Barnwell of ESPN+ argues that it is more difficult than ever to give running backs top salary.

Along with Taylor, Barnwell examined Saquon Barkley, Dalvin Cook, Austin Ekeler, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt, and Josh Jacobs.

“For all of the amazement that those seven non-Taylor backs weren’t able to land the deals they were hoping for this offseason, it’s hard to argue any of them have been vindicated by their 2023 production,” Barnwell said at the end of his piece.

“Fournette gets an incomplete grade by virtue of not playing, Ekeler missed time with injuries and Elliott has lived up to his contract with the Patriots, but the other four have all taken a significant step backward from what they did last season, let alone what they were accomplishing at their peaks.”

Barnwell maintained that it was a mistake to sign Taylor to a deal that amounted to a $26.5 million two-year extension with two club options.

“General manager Chris Ballard also built an offense in which Anthony Richardson and his top five pass-catchers at wide receiver and tight end are all on rookie deals,” Barnwell stated. “Gardner Minshew, a backup signal caller, is only paid $3.5 million. Opportunity cost exists, but the Colts are the only team that can currently afford to promise a running back two franchise tags.”

The Colts would have saved roughly $2 million over the course of two years and reduced their risk if they had chosen to apply back-to-back franchise tags.

Barnwell neglects to mention that there was no assurance Taylor would have signed a first franchise tag and rejoined the Colts.

After the 2024 season, the Colts may still cut Taylor with a dead-cap hit of just $5.1 million, even though doing so would have cost them $26.5 million in guaranteed money.

It’s easier to argue that the Colts should have signed a disgruntled player to a one-year contract than it is to argue that dealing Taylor for the best offer and riding with Zack Moss would have been the preferable course of action.

Barnwell’s post focused on examining the running back position as a whole. Along with the likes of D’Andre Swift, Tony Pollard, J.K. Dobbins, AJ Dillon, and Derrick Henry, he came to the conclusion. With Zack Moss expected to become a free agency at the end of the season, running back compensation is only going to become more difficult to come by.

He seems to be spot on on that point, if you pardon the pun. This offseason, the Colts will have to decide whether to spend more money on Moss or go with Taylor, who is less expensive.

Since Taylor has a four-year contract, the Colts will be in a strong negotiation position.