Report: Vikings Could Be in on Top Trade Deadline Prize

October 24, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The 5-0 Minnesota Vikings released running back DeeJay Dallas on Friday, clearing the way for Jordan Mason to come off injured reserve before Sunday’s noon home game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Mason has not played since Week 1, and Aaron Jones Sr. has carried the backfield since then, while playing through a sprained MCL that we only recently found out about and hasn’t shown up on the injury report in weeks.

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With the increased workload, Jones’s numbers have flourished — 97 carries for 410 yards (4.2 per carry) through five games. The Vikings’ opponent Sunday, however, has Jonathan Taylor — one of the NFL’s most productive running backs over the past two seasons and a two-time 1,500-yard rusher.

🏈🔥 Jonathan Taylor put on an ABSOLUTE CLINIC against the Falcons last season! 🤯🐎 🏃 244 RUSHING YARDS 🎯 3 RECEPTIONS, 42 YARDS 🏈 3 TOUCHDOWNS 📈 49.6 PPR POINTS 83-YARD TD RUN. WALK-OFF OT TOUCHDOWN. INSANITY. 🔥 https://t.co/UPGboYBtBj
— Fantasy Films (@FantasyFi1ms) October 17, 2026

If Minnesota can find a way to slow Taylor on Sunday, beating the Colts shouldn’t be a problem. The rest of the team lacks talent, especially after tight end Tyler Warren went down with injury. Of course, games are played on the football field, not on paper.

But if the Minnesota Vikings do take care of business this weekend, they will improve to 6-0 and the Colts would fall to 2-5. If that happens, Indianapolis will take one giant step closer to tearing down the roster at the trade deadline.

Report: Vikings a potential suitor for Colts RB Jonathan Taylor

For now, according to Jonathan Jones (The Athletic), the Colts are not entertaining trade talks for Jonathan Taylor. Should the losing continue, though, then shopping Taylor isn’t out of the question.

Remember, this is the team that just fired its general manager, Chris Ballard. Now, interim GM Ed Dobbs is at the helm. While there are sure to be a bevy of teams interested in Taylor, should he come available, the only two teams Jones names as possible suitors for the 3x Pro Bowler are the Giants and Minnesota Vikings.

The Indianapolis Colts are not entertaining discussions of a potential Jonathan Taylor trade. At least not yet.
Indianapolis is 2-4 and two games out of a wild-card spot. After speaking with sources in Indy and around the league, my understanding is that the team needs to see what the landscape is like in a few weeks before deciding on their star running back…
…Sources believe the New York Giants and Vikings could be potential suitors for Taylor if he’s available for trade. The Colts could look to reclaim some draft capital after sending two first-round picks to the Jets for Sauce Gardner last year, and Taylor would be the most expedient route to a high pick.
Jonathan Jones – The Athletic

Taylor signed a two-year, $44 million extension with Indianapolis on Aug. 6. It runs through 2028, averages $22 million per year and includes $39.02 million in guarantees and a $15 million signing bonus.

His 2026 cap hit is $16.19 million, and he is not scheduled to reach free agency until 2029. Under the deal, his $15 million 2027 base salary becomes fully guaranteed in February, and a $7.5 million roster bonus is due in March 2028.

Rapoport keeping eye on Vikings + Jonathan Taylor too

Jones isn’t the only one watching for a spark between the Minnesota Vikings and Indianapolis Colts, regarding Taylor. On Friday, Ian Rapoport (NFL Network)told Good Morning Football that the Colts will have a decision to make on Taylor.

Rapoport also noted a front-office connection. Ed Dodds, the Colts assistant general manager who is running personnel now, came from the Seattle Seahawks… just like Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley.

🚨 JONATHAN TAYLOR TO MINNESOTA? 👀 @RapSheet points out that Colts interim GM Ed Dodds has ties to Seattle, while Nolan Teasley is the GM in Minnesota, raising questions about whether the relationship could help facilitate a potential Jonathan Taylor trade. #SKOL pic.twitter.com/mUxs8MGCZV
— VikingNations (@VikingNations) October 23, 2026

“As far as the Jonathan Taylor thing, Ed Dodds, who’s running the personnel department, does have ties to Seattle. Knows John Schneider incredibly well… By the way, same as Nolan Teasley, who’s in Minnesota. Wonder if they could use one as well. If Jonathan Taylor is available, I would expect many teams to be interested.”

What could Jonathan Taylor do for Vikings?

Taylor, 27, has 122 carries for 492 yards and seven rushing touchdowns in six games this season, along with 15 catches for 163 yards. His 4.0 yards per carry in 2026 is the lowest of his career (previous low was 4.4 in 2023).

Last season, he led the NFL in carries (323), rushing touchdowns (18) and rushing first downs (84) while running for 1,585 yards. That followed 1,431 yards in 2024, and both seasons ended with Pro Bowl selections, his second and third.

The Colts drafted Taylor 41st overall out of Wisconsin in 2020. Over 90 career games, he has 8,090 rushing yards and 76 rushing touchdowns at 4.8 yards per carry, plus 202 catches for 1,632 yards. His best season came in 2021, when he ran for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns and was a first-team All-Pro.

Just a Jonathan Taylor appreciation post. He touched the ball 5 straight times for 36 yards to tie the game in the 4th quarter. https://t.co/OReYoen0BP
— Cody Manning (@CodyTalksNFL) October 19, 2026

Minnesota opened the season planning to split carries between Jones and Mason. Mason had 15 carries to 12 for Jones in the Week 1 win over Green Bay before a thumb injury sent him to injured reserve.

Since then, Jones has handled nearly all of the work, with rookie Demond Claiborne and Dallas getting little. Mason ran for 758 yards and six touchdowns on 4.8 yards per carry last season, while Jones, 31, is averaging 4.2 yards per carry for the second straight year.

Taylor has 24 runs of 20 or more yards since the start of the 2024 season. Jones has five in that same span.