What would it take to extend Colts stars Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr.?

In an offseason where the search for a young quarterback and new offensive line coach Shane Steichen is making the biggest headlines for the Colts, not far up the list of priorities should be paying their top two players. ‘offensive skill.

Star running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., both 2020 second-round picks, are eligible for contract extensions after completing their third year in the NFL.

Taylor, the 2021 NFL Triple Crown winner, had a rough 2022 campaign, between an ankle injury that kept him out 11 games and the struggles of an offensive line that couldn’t consistently create lanes for him currents But he still had a team-high 861 yards on 192 carries.

Just as Taylor’s production was affected by a porous offensive line, Pittman’s numbers dipped in part due to poor quarterback play (which was also affected by the line’s pass protection issues offensive). He caught 99 passes for 925 yards and four touchdowns in 2022.

What can we expect from potential new deals for Taylor and Pittman?

Taylor deserves a first market RB deal

When he’s 100 percent healthy, Taylor is a top-five running back in the NFL. He had the league’s best running season in 2021: 332 carries for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns en route to unanimous AP All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod. He is the master of subtle jump cuts and has elite burst when he gets to the second level of a defense.

Why paying Taylor could be a challenge for the Colts: He’s coming off an injury-shortened season at an already devalued, short-lived position, as well as having a lot of wear and tear on his body. Beyond his three-season NFL resume (756 carries, 3,841 rushing yards, 33 touchdowns), Taylor had three 1,900-yard rushing seasons at Wisconsin in addition to a 2,800-yard season in high school. How much tread is left on the tires? This could be a talking point at the negotiating table.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard said, however, that a “special playmaker” deserves top dollar even if it’s a running back, without elaborating on a potential deal for Taylor.

He is the engine of the Indianapolis offense, the future insurance blanket for the incoming quarterback. With a competent offensive line, Taylor is expected to regain his All-Pro form. He told NFL Network that he underwent ankle surgery in January.

So what might a new contract look like for Taylor, who is slated to make $4.304 million in base salary next season?

Here are some of the extensions signed by star running backs in recent seasons (Numbers via SpoTrac):

• Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys): Six years, $90 million total value, $28.05 million guaranteed at signing, $50.05 million total guaranteed (signed September 2019)
• Christian McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers): Four years, $64 million total value, $30.06 million guaranteed at signing, $38.16 million in total guarantees (April 2020)
• Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans): Four years, $50 million in total value, $25.5 million guaranteed at signing, $25.5 million in total guarantees (July 2020)
• Joe Mixon (Cincinnati Bengals): Four years, $48 million in total value, $10 million guaranteed at signing, $10 million in total guarantees (September 2020)
• Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints): Five years, $75 million, $22.8 million guaranteed at signing; $33.8 million in total guarantees (September 2020)
• Dalvin Cook (Minnesota Vikings): Five years, $63 million in total value, $16.3 million guaranteed at signing, $28.1 million in total guarantees (September 2020)
• Aaron Jones (Green Bay Packers): Four years, $48 million in total value, $13 million guaranteed at signing, $14 million in total guarantees (March 2021)
• Nick Chubb (Cleveland Browns): Three years, $36.6 million in total value, $17.1 million guaranteed at signing, $20 million in total guarantees (August 2021)

Since four-year deals have been common for star running backs, this could be a starting point for Taylor’s camp. Taylor will also be looking for at least $16 million a year in average annual salary, surpassing Elliott’s $15 million. McCaffrey tops running backs in AAV ($16.015 million), but the San Francisco 49ers star represents a unique case because of his rare receiving ability for the position.

Even with six missed games last season, Elliott and McCaffrey’s contracts are arguably the best data points for Taylor, because they are the only two of the eight RB players listed above to get at least one hit of AP All-Pro first-teamer before his extension. .

Taylor’s camp could also wait to see what new deals are like for star running backs Josh Jacobs, Miles Sanders and Saquon Barkley, all of whom are unrestricted free agents this offseason, before moving on a contract.

Will the Colts pay Pittman as a WR1?

Pittman has been the Colts’ top receiver the last two seasons and was a 1,000-yard receiver in Indianapolis’ dysfunctional passing game in 2022.

Why paying him could be a challenge: A potential gap where Pittman’s agent and the Colts see his position. In his postseason presser, Ballard called Pittman a “very good offensive player,” but stopped short of saying he’s a true WR1.

“What’s a? What’s a real one?” Ballard said. “A guy that every time he touches the ball, you’re scared to death that he’s going to score. There are very few of them.”

Pittman has been Indianapolis’ No. 1 option, though. Despite the Colts’ quarterback challenges, he remains eighth in the NFL in targets (262), fifth in receptions (181), 16th in receiving yards (1,930), 16th in yards after the catch (671) and 11th in receiving first back (101) over the last two seasons, according to TruMedia.

Pittman isn’t on the same level as wide receivers Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and AJ Brown, all of whom received mega-extensions last spring. But he should still be able to command the No. 1 receiver’s money.

Here are some recent extensions that could serve as potential benchmarks for Pittman (all numbers via SpoTrac):

• DJ Moore (Carolina Panthers): Three years, $61.8 million in total value, $41.6 million guaranteed at signing, $41.6 million in total guarantees (signed March 2022)
• Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars): Four years, $72 million in total value, $37 million guaranteed at signing, $37 million in total guarantees (March 2022)
• Mike Williams (Los Angeles Chargers): Three years, $60 million in total contract value, $40 million guaranteed at signing, $50 million in total guarantees (March 2022)
• Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Three years, $60 million in total value, $40 million guaranteed at signing, $40 million in total guarantees (March 2022)
• Tyler Lockett (Seattle Seahawks): Four years, $69 million in total value, $37 million guaranteed at signing, $37 million in total guarantees (April 2021)

It’s reasonable to expect Pittman to reach the top 10 in average annual salary on a new deal at $21-22 million, making Moore ($20.628 million per year) 11th. And a three-year deal makes sense — for the 25-year-old to receive another big contract before turning 30 and take advantage of the expected salary cap explosion.

Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for three seasons (2018-20) before moving to Tennessee. You can follow Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.

FOX Sports Top Stories:

---

---