Jonathan Taylor Trade Rumors Getting Weird – 49ers?

Jonathan Taylor Trade Rumors

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has been mentioned as a possible trade target for the San Francisco 49ers, though no report says the teams have talked. NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk reported Thursday that analyst Chris Simms said on PFT Live that some people around the league are wondering whether the 49ers could pursue Taylor. The report noted that people ask Simms such questions because he is close friends with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. It did not say Simms has inside information. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The speculation follows ESPN’s report on Oct. 31 that the Colts are open to trading Taylor and that talks with multiple teams are active and ongoing. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Indianapolis has already received an offer that includes a second-round pick plus additional compensation. The Colts would seek a package similar to the one San Francisco gave Carolina for Christian McCaffrey in 2022, according to Schefter. That deal included second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks. The Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants were the teams named as interested in the ESPN report. The 49ers were not among them. Indianapolis also traded guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner for a 2027 third-round pick, a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

Taylor, 27, has 610 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 148 carries through eight games this season, an average of 4.1 yards per carry. He has added 21 catches for 202 yards. He received a $15 million signing bonus before the season. He is owed $15 million in 2027 and $9.46 million in 2028, according to ESPN. He has $3.87 million in base salary remaining this season, which drops to $3.49 million after Week 9, per PFT. He ranks second in Colts history in rushing yards behind Edgerrin James and holds the franchise record with 77 rushing touchdowns.

McCaffrey would be the obvious complication. He carries a 2026 cap number of $10.861 million, which PFT said is low enough for San Francisco to keep both backs this season. His 2027 cap number is $26.4 million with no guaranteed money in the final year of his contract. PFT wrote that the 49ers would likely move on from McCaffrey after this season if they acquired Taylor. Through seven games, McCaffrey has 91 carries for 428 yards and nine touchdowns, plus 40 catches for 312 yards.

For now, the 49ers link is league chatter and not a reported negotiation.

Jonathan Taylor fantasy managers have no reason to change anything in PPR leagues. He remains an every-week RB1 on a team that is prepared to move him but has not found a deal. A trade elsewhere would likely keep him in a lead role, since the teams linked to him are shopping for a feature back. If San Francisco did land him, the outlook would change quickly. Taylor would likely still start, but McCaffrey fantasy managers would face a shared backfield, with McCaffrey leaning more on his catches. The 49ers rumor alone is not a reason to sell either back. A confirmed trade before Tuesday would be.