Jonathan Taylor Just Broke the Running Back Market With a Historic Third Contract

The Indianapolis Colts just looked at the modern NFL rulebook for paying running backs, laughed, and threw it directly into a woodchipper.

According to Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter, the Colts and star running back Jonathan Taylor have agreed to a massive two-year, $44 million extension. The deal maxes out at $47 million and comes with an absurd $39 million guaranteed.

"Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter reported the deal, noting it as the largest third contract for a RB ever."

For context, giving a running back a third contract in today's NFL is like buying a used sports car with 150,000 miles on it and paying over sticker price. Front offices usually treat aging running backs like expired milk, tossing them out for a fresh fourth-round draft pick without a second thought.

But Taylor is not a normal running back, and this is not a normal deal. Agent Malki Kawa just secured the largest third contract for a running back in league history. That $39 million guarantee is the kind of money that makes other general managers break out in a cold sweat.

This completely shifts how we have to look at the Indianapolis Colts offense going forward, especially when projecting player usage and weekly prop markets. You do not hand out nearly $20 million a year in guaranteed cash to a guy unless you plan to feed him the rock until the laces wear off.

Taylor is healthy, wealthy, and locked in as the absolute engine of this franchise. The running back market was supposed to be dead, but apparently, the Colts just decided to fund the resurrection.