The Broncos trade chatter around Jonathan Taylor shifted quickly, and the reason was not subtle. At the start of last week, the Denver Broncos were the odds-on favorites to land the running back before the November 10 trade deadline. By late last week, that momentum had cooled after the Indianapolis Colts asked for first-round value, a price that appears to have changed how the market views the deal.
That kind of asking price can do more than slow negotiations. It can reshape them. For a player who has been the subject of trade speculation before the deadline, first-round value is a major threshold, and it helps explain why the Broncos no longer look like the clear favorite. The reported shift also suggests the Colts are not simply gauging interest; they are setting a bar that only certain teams may be willing to meet.
Who is in the mix now?
By Monday afternoon, the New England Patriots were rising as a top trade suitor, and the New York Giants had become the favorites, per Hard Rock Bet. By Tuesday night, Hard Rock Bet expected the New York Giants, the Indianapolis Colts, the Denver Broncos, and the Minnesota Vikings to be the most likely teams for Jonathan Taylor. That does not mean the race is settled, but it does show that the market has widened beyond Denver.
The most important detail is not just that the Broncos cooled on the idea. It is that the price point changed the shape of the discussion. First-round value is a steep ask for any running back, even one as accomplished as Taylor. If a team cannot get comfortable with that kind of return, the path to a deal becomes far less direct. That is why the Broncos trade storyline now feels less like a sprint toward a favorite and more like a test of who is willing to pay up.
For now, the question is less about Denver alone and more about whether any team will meet the Colts' terms before the November 10 deadline. If not, the market may keep moving until the final hours, with the Giants, Patriots, Vikings and Broncos all still involved in some form. What seemed like a straightforward Broncos trade possibility has turned into something much less certain.
