


It seems the Packers wanted to gift new starting quarterback Jordan Love a prolific weapon.
Green Bay “had legitimate interest” in trading for disgruntled Colts running back Jonathan Taylor but ultimately failed to complete a trade, according to ESPN.
The rebuilding Colts ultimately held onto Taylor, who will miss at least the first four games of the regular season since he’s still on the physically unable to perform list.
The Packers’ interest in Taylor as the proverbial “mystery team” is quite interesting considering the team has a top running back duo in Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.
Jones, a dual-threat back, signed a four-year extension with the Packers prior to the 2021 season.
The 28-year-old agreed to a $5 million pay cut for this upcoming season.
Dillon, 25, is in the final year of his rookie contract and could potentially replace or succeed Jones as the team’s main ball carrier, or find a starting gig elsewhere.
The two combined for 1,891 yards and nine rushing touchdowns last season, with Jones tallying 1,121 of those rushing yards and Dillon leading the way with seven rushing scores.
Jones also contributed 395 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns, while Dillon tallied 206 receiving yards.
The Packers’ interest could be seen as both a short- and long-term play.
Acquiring Taylor – and then attempting to work out a contract extension – could allow them to move on from both Jones and Dillon this offseason.
It also would have secured an elite three-headed backfield for this upcoming season when Love will succeed Aaron Rodgers.
For Taylor, playing for the Packers would provide a nice homecoming story for the former University of Wisconsin product.
The Colts selected Taylor with the 41st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the same year the Packers picked Dillon at No. 62.
The Packers can still pursue a trade for Taylor at this year’s Oct. 31 trade deadline, although there could be more suitors as teams will likely have better grips on their Super Bowl chances at that time.
The Dolphins and Eagles both reportedly expressed interest in Taylor, who is still open to a deal, according to ESPN.
The Colts and Taylor are at an impasse as the team has let Taylor enter his walk year without a contract extension, despite strong production in the first two seasons of his NFL career.
The market for running backs has been unkind in recent memory — just ask Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs — and Taylor is coming off the worst season of his young career.
Taylor underwent offseason ankle surgery, which has played a role in him landing on the PUP list.