theathleticuk
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has no issue with his wife, Ayanna, taking to social media to address the swirling trade rumors surrounding him. Taylor, who is widely regarded as one of the top available players ahead of the NFL's fast-approaching trade deadline, made the comments after the Colts dropped another game, falling 16-10 to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in Minneapolis.
That loss dropped Indianapolis to 2-5 on the season. In the defeat, Taylor carried the ball 18 times for 95 yards and scored one touchdown. "I think it's been out there already, so I think her adding to it doesn't really change anything," Taylor said. "You know everybody's on TikTok these days. So, you just have to come into work and stay focused."
Over the weekend, Ayanna Taylor shared two TikTok videos in which she discussed the trade speculation surrounding her husband and the reasons he might be moved. "We're in a situation that we've never been in before," she said via TikTok. "This may be the first time we may not be on the same team, and we might get traded."
Ayanna Taylor pointed to Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon's decision to fire general manager Chris Ballard last week as a critical turning point in Taylor's time with the team. Ballard had traded up to select Taylor in the second round of the 2020 draft, a move that turned out to be a major success. Taylor has developed into one of the NFL's most productive running backs and arguably the best in Colts history. His 38-yard rushing touchdown on Sunday was the 77th of his career, extending a franchise record.
However, as Ayanna Taylor noted, the biggest trade of Ballard's tenure likely played a role in his dismissal. Last season, with the Colts off to a 7-2 start, Ballard sent the team's 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, along with wide receiver AD Mitchell, to the New York Jets in exchange for star cornerback Sauce Gardner. Since that trade, Indianapolis has gone 3-12, and quarterback Daniel Jones—who was playing at a Pro Bowl level last year before fracturing his left fibula and rupturing his right Achilles tendon—has regressed into one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Gardner also has not lived up to expectations, missing multiple games over the past two years due to a pair of left calf strains.
After a home loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans last week, Ballard was relieved of his duties, with both Jones and Gardner taking partial blame. "So, let's look at the situation that they've put themselves in," Ayanna Taylor said. "They have a losing record. They just fired their 10-year GM, and they have no first-round draft picks. How are they gonna get new leadership to come in when they really have no options to transform the team? Insert Taylor."
Unlike other Colts trade candidates such as standout defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and star left guard Quenton Nelson, who are on expiring contracts, Taylor signed a two-year, $44 million extension in August and is under contract through the 2028 season. In theory, his contract should make him the most valuable trade asset on the Colts roster since he is more than a one-year rental. "That's what brings us back to my husband," Ayanna Taylor said. "Do they keep him as a contender moving forward in the future? Or do they just trade him and cut their losses for as much assets and value as they can?"
The trade deadline is Nov. 10. Jonathan Taylor said last week, "I haven't given it any thought," but at least one person in the Taylor household has. "The waiting game is on," Ayanna Taylor said as she asked fans to weigh in. "I want to know your guys thoughts and what you think. Are we gonna stay on the Colts and just ride in the sunset with them? Or is my life about to completely flip, and I'm about to start a whole new chapter of my life? Let me know and follow along because apparently my life is now a Colts transaction watch."
Key Analysis
The Colts find themselves at a crossroads with a 2-5 record, a newly fired general manager, and no first-round picks in the next two drafts. Taylor's contract situation makes him an attractive trade piece, but his value to the franchise and the community complicates any potential move. As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on Indianapolis to see whether the team decides to keep its star running back or embark on a full-scale rebuild.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.