The New York Giants running back trade conversation has a clear name attached to it: Jonathan Taylor. With the Indianapolis Colts at 2-4 and Chris Ballard gone, the possibility of a seller’s market before the Nov. 10 NFL Trade Deadline has put one of the league’s elite backs into the frame.
That does not mean a deal is imminent. But it does mean the Giants, who have not produced a 20-yard run by a running back yet this season, will be watching closely if the Colts decide to reshape their roster. Taylor would immediately be the most obvious upgrade if New York is serious about adding proven explosiveness to its backfield.
Why Taylor fits the Giants' need
The appeal is obvious. Taylor has already shown he can be a centerpiece back, and his 2025 season underlined that with 1,585 rushing yards and a league-best 18 rushing touchdowns. He is also a proven performer with four 1,000-yard seasons across six NFL seasons, plus three Pro Bowl appearances and a first-team All-Pro honor in 2021.
For a Giants team looking for stability and impact, that kind of production matters. The backfield has not given them enough juice, and the current production gap is large enough that a major move would not be hard to justify. Taylor is 27 years old, which also means he is still in the window where a contender can reasonably expect meaningful mileage.
What it would take to get him
The obstacle is the price. Taylor is tied to a two-year, $44 million deal, with a 2026 salary of $34 million on the books and further control running through 2028. That is a significant commitment for any team considering a trade, and it explains why this is being framed as speculation rather than something close to done.
Any deal would likely require meaningful draft capital, with the source discussion pointing to a first-round pick or at least a Day 2 asset as the kind of return that would get attention. That is the reality when a player with Taylor’s profile becomes available: the talent is rare, but the cost is too.
Why the Colts are suddenly in the conversation
The Colts’ 2-4 record has changed the tone around the franchise, especially after the firing of Chris Ballard this week. That is why other teams are now asking whether Indianapolis could become aggressive sellers before the deadline.
John Harbaugh’s description of the situation as “a Derrick Henry circumstance or a Saquon Barkley circumstance” captures the scale of the debate. In other words, if the Colts decide that the right move is to listen on elite talent, Taylor becomes the kind of player who can alter a backfield and change the deadline picture in one step.
For the Giants, the logic is simple. They need help, Taylor is the best running back name linked to the market, and the Nov. 10 deadline gives this story a real timetable. Whether the Colts actually open the door is the only question that really matters now.
