One of the bigger surprises to come out of the Jonathan Taylor situation with the Indianapolis Colts is that the Green Bay Packers were the mystery team involved. It was something that surprised a lot of people as the Packers already have the best running back tandem in the NFL in Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.
It was the Packers, along with the Miami Dolphins, who were showing the most interest in acquiring the star running back from the Colts. Ultimately, not deal got done as Indianapolis didn’t receive an offer that met their asking price.
That asking price was reportedly very high. It was believed that the Colts sought a first-round pick, but they were asking for even more. In negotiations with the Dolphins, they wanted star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in return. That was never going to happen.
While no such offers were reported about the Packers, something interesting was shared. According to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, Green Bay and Miami were both willing to sign Taylor to a contract that would have placed him near the top of the position.
According to Mike Jones of The Athletic, Taylor was seeking between $14-15 million annually. Depending on where in that range it fell, Taylor would have become the second or third-highest-paid running back in the NFL. Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans tops that list at $16.3 million, while Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns is second at $14.8 million.
It certainly would have been interesting to see how the Packers handled that, as Jones is already on his second contract. He also took a pay cut this offseason to remain in Green Bay. Dillon is also entering the final year of his rookie contract, as he was selected 21 picks after Taylor in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Out of the three, there is no denying that Taylor would be the best long-term fit. He is more than four years younger than Jones and has already proven capable of being a lead back; that is something Dillon has yet to do.
If the Packers were able to acquire Taylor, he would fit into the youth movement they are undergoing. Paying running backs certainly isn’t what many franchises are doing, but a healthy Taylor is one of the best players in the NFL at his position.
