Why the Bengals easily make the most sense as Jonathan Taylor's trade destination

The opportunity of a lifetime has fallen from the sky for the Cincinnati Bengals. Just as fans' desperation to see the running game improve has reached the depths of human sadness during the bye, the Indianapolis Colts might soon have Jonathan Taylor on the trade block.

Chris Ballard finally lost his job as Colts GM and if anyone wants to point me in the direction of anything he accomplished during his too-long tenure, please do so. I ain't seen't it.

So yeah, the Bengals could cross their fingers on Samaje Perine being a bell cow back. Or hope Chase Brown, uh, valmorphanizes into some spectacular player.

Or Cincinnati de facto GM Duke Tobin could, you know, just go get JT from Indy.

It's time for the Bengals to get Dexter Lawrence levels of aggressive before the NFL trade deadline

Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow seemingly refuse to diversify the running game. Their menu of plays just will never be robust enough to be a balanced team. They have that luxury since Burrow is so good at throwing and has an elite 1-2 punch at wideout in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

In other words, as things stand in Cincinnati's scheme, they need a tailback who can elevate it. Like get hidden yards and make guys miss. That's precisely what Jonathan Taylor does.

The Bengals traded the 10th overall pick for Dexter Lawrence, who has completely transformed their defense. They could get a similar impact from Taylor if he joins the backfield.

I like what Andre Bengals proposed here well enough, only I would kick in Chase Brown as part of the deal. If only for the high comedy of him looking eerily similar to past Colts running back Donald Brown in uniform:

I'd go for a 2027 first-rounder. I mean, Marvin Harrison Jr. just got traded for a second-rounder to the Texans, and granted he's younger and all, but my lord! If that's the going price for the son of a Colts legend, the modern face of the franchise should probably fetch a Day 1 selection, no?

No other landing spot really checks out for Taylor

Kicking in a decent young back in Brown to the trade gives Cincinnati leverage. So too does the fact that, among the three teams trending on X as viable spots for Jonathan Taylor to go, the Bengals look like the easy choice.

Yes, the Seattle Seahawks could go get Taylor, but they just invested a first-round pick in Jadarian Price. He is designated to return from injured reserve, as is Zach Charbonnet. There is no need to add Taylor to the mix whatsoever, especially with the solid production Seattle has gotten out of Emmanuel Wilson in the meantime.

The other named team is the Minnesota Vikings. They're 5-0 but have a pedestrian quarterback in Kyler Murray. That's literally all Taylor has dealt with throughout his time with the Colts.

I do not believe Indy will send Taylor somewhere he doesn't want to go. Aaron Jones is playing just fine for Minnesota — I would know, he's on my fantasy squad — and if I were the Vikings, if anything, I'd be calling around for an upgrade over Kyler before surplussing the running back room.

There was also this from Kay Adams and James Palmer on Denver being a fit. Really? Has James not seen Bo Nix play? Taylor would run for the hills after two practices.

Think Taylor would maybe want to play with Joe Burrow? Yeah I think maybe he would. And with Chase and Higgins striking fear into defenses, that would open up all kinds of symbiotic favorable matchups for them and Taylor to exploit.

Usually I'm like, "Eh give it a rest" about certain trade speculation. Not this time. Chase Brown ain't the feature back of the future. Taylor is under a manageable contract through 2028 that can be reworked.

Cincinnati has the cap space to make it worth the rest of this season and beyond. Duke Tobin and Bengals management, it's time to get bold again. Pick up the phone. Give up a first-round pick if you must. Jonathan Taylor may play the most "disposable" position in the sport, but Jonathan Taylors do not grow on trees. You get him and you don't think twice.

Or at least that's what genuine Super Bowl contenders do. Let's see what happens.

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