Jonathan Taylor: Entering season without new deal ‘wouldn’t be a distraction’

Jonathan Taylor: Entering season without new deal ‘wouldn’t be a distraction’

Unlike many other NFL players, a new deal does not distract star running back Jonathan Taylor. The Indianapolis Colts star is in the final year of his rookie contract, which ends next season.

“It wouldn’t be a distraction to me,” Taylor said, according to the Indianapolis Star’s Joel A. Erickson. “I’m under contract here for four years. I put the pen to the paper, so that’s where I’m at right now. I have an obligation to them and an obligation to me, but things will happen naturally.”

The 24-year-old hasn’t revealed to the public if the Colts have offered him a new deal.

“I don’t even know (how the negotiation process) goes,” he said. “You always just see that, but not until you’re really in that situation, to where you’re like, ‘OK, (this) is what happens.'”

(All quotes via theScore)

Indianapolis has given Taylor the keys to the offense in his time there. In only three years into the league, Taylor has become one of the most dominant rushers. Taylor has accumulated 3,841 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in just 43 regular season games. In 2021, Taylor took the NFL by storm in his breakout year, rushing for a league-leading 1,811 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, amassing 106.5 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry.

With Taylor accomplishing historic feats, it set him up for an incredible 2022 campaign. Unfortunately for Taylor, he would only play 11 games due to an ankle injury suffered in Week 4. That same ankle sprain would haunt him later in the season, as he underwent surgery in January.

Taylor, entering the last year of his rookie contract, is set to make around $4.3 million in base salary in 2023, including a signing bonus of around $813,000 — equating to a $5.1 million cap hit. The Colts are able to sign an extension with Taylor at any time, but if both sides don’t come to an agreement, it could lead to Indianapolis franchise tagging him in the future.

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