CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly among several teams aggressively pursuing Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ahead of the November 10 NFL trade deadline.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz first reported Sunday on X that Cincinnati was among five teams that had checked on Taylor's availability, along with Minnesota, New York, Denver, and Green Bay. Schultz also reported that Indianapolis' asking price was considered too high, although sources believed a trade was becoming more likely.
Schultz provided an update Monday in another X post, sharing his latest reporting from an appearance on The Pivot podcast with Ryan Clark.
"My understanding is that five to six teams have been aggressively pursuing him: Giants, Packers, Broncos, Seahawks, Bengals, Vikings," Schultz said.
Schultz added that he believes Taylor would be open to a fresh start and that Indianapolis would likely require at least a second-round draft pick plus additional compensation to complete a trade.
The Colts have already traded offensive guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, although Taylor has not requested a trade. The three-time Pro Bowler signed a two-year, $44 million contract extension in August that keeps him under contract through 2028.
Acquiring Taylor would give Joe Burrow another elite offensive weapon while improving a Cincinnati rushing attack that has struggled with consistency. However, the Bengals would have to weigh the cost against other roster needs, particularly on defense.
For now, Cincinnati's reported interest has not resulted in a confirmed agreement, and the Bengals face competition from several teams if they intend to pursue a deal.
