Indianapolis Colts Contract Extension Rumors On Quenton Nelson, Jonathan Taylor & Chris Ballard

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:01]Welcome in to Colts Talk presented by PrizePicks. Look, we went through a lot of drama this offseason, especially with new contracts. Daniel Jones, there was a tag, then no tag, then a two-year deal, months of looking at what the Colts should do with that one. Alec Pierce was on the K Adams show saying a new opportunity with a new team, testing the free agent market is something he needed to do. Now, it's a hometown discount.

[00:00:24]No, they'll have to go 28, 29. All this going on just to get those two guys back eventually. Tons of drama, right? With just two players. Well, CBS Sports believes the Indianapolis Colts could see it again in 2027.

[00:00:38]Let's get into it.

[00:00:40]>> [music] >> So, as I said, looking at the 2027 offseason, yes, a year from now, but definitely something we have to think about. And as we talk about this video and what we're getting into in this one with some extension rumors.

[00:00:58]Should be noted these could get done in between. We may not make it to 2027, but we'll see on that one. So, Quenton Nelson, Jonathan Taylor, you go from Jones and Pierce to Q and Taylor, right?

[00:01:09]Two big names once again set to be free agents for the Colts in 2027. CBS Sports basically saying like extensions are going to be tough, so they may want to start looking at franchise tags for one of these guys. Got to figure that out, got to figure out extensions. ALL THE WHILE, WITH ALL this going on, with the Colts having to get this done, Chris Ballard is in the final year of his contract. He'll go into his 10th season as the GM of the Indianapolis Colts. So, while we're trying to figure out how the Colts get this bad boy done, Chris Ballard not necessarily going to be the guy to do it in general. Let's get to what Joel Cory of CBS Sports had to say here. The Colts have some unfinished financial business. Contract extension decisions need to be made on guard Quenton Nelson and running back Jonathan Taylor, arguably the best two players on the team. Both players are in a contract year. Corey continues, "The Colts may have sticker shock in any efforts to resign Nelson and Taylor. Unless one of them gets a contract extension, a choice will need to be made with a franchise tag next off-season. So, straight up, before we break it all down, before we get into it, uh if you could do it right now, if you get in get an extension done this minute, but you only get to pick one guy to give it to. Will it be Quenton Nelson for you or Jonathan Taylor? Type Q or type T. Get down there and let us know in the comments section.

[00:02:36]So, we have uh uh hinted I I don't want to say we've labeled it cuz we don't know yet, but we have hinted this could be Jonathan Taylor's last dance with the Indianapolis Colts. Ironically, coming off a Pro Bowl season, however, that is a uh heavily weighted in the first half, right? That second half not quite as good. Look, the box was loaded. They really went at Jonathan Taylor uh in that second half of the season with Daniel Jones down. I I don't necessarily blame him for that. He got an extension, 3 years, 42 million. That one coming to an end. Um so, look, he's been a guy for the Colts. And the biggest thing here was I've said this before, just when it looked like the injuries were piling up, the non-1,000 yd seasons were piling up, looked like Taylor was done, bam, two monster seasons bouncing back in '24 and '25. Again, uh he had you cooking when everybody else was cooking last year.

[00:03:26]However, it did kind of get to a point um where Taylor was getting boxed up. Uh Taylor was getting like really put the pressure on him last year. I think he struggled a little bit uh to get things going without a real, you know, quarterback option for the Colts uh after Daniel Jones went down. Can't really blame him once again for that one. Um but I think that kind of is what it is. And look at the running back market, where it kind of stands as of right now, and it did just get reset by the way with a new contract uh for Devon Achane of the Dolphins.

[00:03:57]They extended him at about $16 million per year. So, that's kind of where Jonathan Taylor is looking. I would think that's about like literally exactly what he's going to look for in his next contract is you know, two or three years, $16 million.

[00:04:13]You know, he's in that 14 right now.

[00:04:14]He's in the top 10, 15, 16. I definitely think that's what he'll have his eyes on. And I do believe Jonathan Taylor is a top 10 running back in the NFL. So, it's not like crazy to think that he could command an extension rather than a franchise tag. But, the details behind that important so we'll get to more on that in just a second. But first, America's number one sports picks app, that's PrizePicks. I've got the app.

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[00:06:11]So, I actually do believe between the two, if it came down to it, if you're really having a tough time and look, again, we did this between Pierce and Daniel Jones about the tag thing. Who should get the tag? Uh what kind of tag, right? All that's going to go into I think Taylor is a is a greater franchise tag candidate in general in this situation. However, I will note that doesn't mean the Colts are just want one more year of Taylor. They used it with Daniel Jones to buy more time. Literally just like 2 weeks and then they got a deal done with Daniel Jones. So, we'll keep an eye on tag candidate-wise for these guys, but I do think Taylor is the bigger option. Again, we showed you the numbers there. 16, 17 million, uh that's kind of where we're looking for Jonathan Taylor. That's what he's going to be looking for. Not sure on the years. He's only 27 years old, right? So, I wouldn't be overly uncomfortable with the 3-year $16 million deal. Kind of have to think about that in general uh for Jonathan Taylor there. Now, as we transition to Quenton Nelson, it's Quenton Nelson, people. Five-time team captain, eight-time Pro Bowler. He is coming off a massive extension of his own. He signed a 4-year, $80 million deal in 2022. So, he's a $20 million a year player uh for the Colts in general.

[00:07:24]Look, that would be a lot for for a running back, for a wide receiver, and this is what you're paying, you know, your left guard, your franchise left guard, one of the names, right? Again, the doesn't speak lightly to be a five-time team captain and an eight-time Pro Bowler for Quenton Nelson. Here's what uh CBS Sports had to say about his situation. Nelson reset the market by a bigger margin when he signed his current contract. He got 21.21% more than the existing guard salary benchmark, which at the time was Brandon Sheriff at 16 and a half million. That type of increase would put Nelson in the $29 neighborhood. Woof. 29, man, that would be crazy. Again, the question is, will he reset the market or will you just kind of look to get you know, a a little bit more than what you have going. I was talking to Aiden Perez, our producer here, pre-show and I just Look, for me it would be perfect if you could just give him the exact same extension and I know it's easier said than done and kind of crazy, but he is going to into his 30s, um, you know, which for guards isn't like the ultimate fall off. Guards play pretty well into their 30s, actually.

[00:08:32]Um, but it'd be ideal if you could get him close to what you're already getting him. However, you saw CBS Sports note there, like, yeah, he's going to try and reset the market. Uh, Tyler Smith right now at $24 million.

[00:08:43]However, it Let's say you give him the 29 million, right? You give him 29, eight, seven, something huge, resets the market. This is not going to be a gamble. This is not going to be an overpay. This is not going to be an irresponsible spending of money for Quenton Nelson. It's Quenton Nelson.

[00:09:00]He's going to look good into his 30s.

[00:09:02]He's a been a great player and again, the guard position, a lot of guys play really, really well into their 30s and I think Quenton Nelson is not one of those guys that you're going to overpay, all of a sudden steep fall off, not seeing good play anymore. Uh, that's how I feel about Quenton Nelson and I think the Colts are going to feel the same way.

[00:09:20]They'll show it with a contract.

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[00:10:33]All right. Now, let's get to Chris Ballard who has his own contract expiring. Year 10 will be the final year of his current contract. Ballard GM'ing for his job or however you want to put it. And again, he'll head into year 10 here. You've got the two playoff appearances, two good years there.

[00:10:52]But in general, you know, hasn't won the AFC South. I think that part's kind of crazy for Chris Ballard at this point in time. I know 10 years when we'll finish out here, that'll be feeling like a long time under Chris Ballard. And he kind of took over during a successful era. It eased into some mediocre era. And that's kind of where the Colts are at this point in time with Chris Ballard. So while they're looking at Taylor, while they're looking at Nelson, Carlie Irsay Gordon is also going to have to look at her GM. And again, I will note, possible that that's something that gets done in week four, eight, halfway. Like if they want to make things easier on themselves, they may do it in the preseason. Not every deal has to get done when the season is over. Before we get more into Ballard, I do want to ask you guys, what does Chris Ballard need to do to get an extension? That is my big question here. Now, a lot of you guys are kind of done with that part of of Colts history, the Ballard era, but I'm asking what can he do to get more time to keep his job? Let me know down below.

[00:11:52]Would the playoffs do it? That was kind of where my mind wanted first. If the Colts get back to the playoffs in 2026, does that keep the job for Chris Ballard? Does that mean he'll still be the general manager of the Colts going forward? How many years do you want him to be the GM? Because he put this team together that makes the playoffs. I I think it's a valid question. But, if you guys said Super Bowl, I would understand, too. And why? 10 years is a long time in general, right? I think we're seeing a lot of teams even great coaches, great GMs, you get to 10-plus years. It's been a long time, right? You look at uh you know, the Harbaughs and and the situation in Baltimore. Just time goes on, time to mix it up, time to do something new. So, I don't think you're crazy for saying you want a Super Bowl or nothing. I don't think you're crazy for saying playoffs or nothing, winning the division and making the playoffs.

[00:12:41]All those things definitely could be put of interest there for Colts fans. But, overall, I keep thinking about Taylor, about Nelson, uh the fact that you just made the Sauce trade, like the big picture here for the Colts, the extensions they have to get done, going to be hard with a new GM. You're you're in a GM search while Quenton Nelson wants a new deal, while Jonathan Taylor wants a new deal. They're testing free agency, you don't have a GM. It's Carlie Irsay Gordon's second year, you know, as an owner. Could be a very messy situation. I guess the benefit is we'll have to wait and see till next year.

[00:13:32]>> [music] >> Woo!