INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts will confront multiple major contract decisions as three cornerstone players enter the final seasons of their deals in 2026: running back Jonathan Taylor, guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The trio have earned a combined $277.9 million over their careers, according to the report.
Jonathan Taylor, 27 and in his sixth NFL season, rebounded from injury issues with 1,431 rushing yards in 2024 and 1,585 yards in 2025, when he also led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns, the report says. Taylor has twice led the NFL in rushing attempts and has shouldered a heavy workload for the Colts.
The report notes Taylor prefers to complete an extension before his contract expires, a stance that produced a protracted standoff in 2023 when he cited an ankle injury, sat out training camp and did not play until Week 5 after signing an extension. Taylor’s current deal averages $14 million per season. The report also points out recent running-back contracts — Saquon Barkley and De’Von Achane — that averaged about $20.6 million and $16 million per year, respectively.
Quenton Nelson, 30 and in his eighth season, remains one of the game’s premier offensive linemen. He is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, was first-team All-Pro in each of his first three seasons and has three second-team All-Pro nods, missing only four of a possible 133 games in eight seasons, the report says. The Colts made Nelson the highest-paid guard in the NFL with a four-year extension in 2022 and previously prevented him from reaching free agency.
The report concludes that each player presents distinct factors the Colts must weigh as they approach 2026, with team dynamics and individual circumstances expected to shape any next moves for Taylor, Nelson and Buckner.
