Colts' Taylor: Entering season without new deal 'wouldn't be a distraction'

Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor isn't concerned about entering the final year of his rookie contract without a new deal.

"It wouldn't be a distraction to me," Taylor said, according to the Indianapolis Star's Joel A. Erickson. "I'm under contract here for four years, I put the pen to the paper, so that's where I'm at right now. I have an obligation to them and an obligation to me, but things will happen naturally."

Taylor, 24, didn't reveal if the Colts approached him with a new contract.

"I don't even know (how the negotiation process) goes," he said. "You always just see that, but not until you're really in that situation, to where you're like, 'OK, (this) is what happens.'"

The Colts leaned heavily on Taylor since selecting him in the second round of the 2020 draft. He rushed for 1,100 yards in each of his first two seasons and led the league with 1,811 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns, and a 106.5 rushing yards per game average.

The Wisconsin product's production dipped last season after he missed six games due to a high ankle sprain. He remains confident he'll be fully healthy as he continues to make progress in his rehabilitation from the injury.

Taylor is set to earn a base salary of $4.3 million in 2023, according to Over the Cap. The Colts tend to strike extensions prior to their training camp in July. However, Taylor could receive the franchise tag after next season if the two sides are unable to reach an agreement.

Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard all had the one-year franchise tender, worth about $10 million, placed on them this offseason.

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