Entering the 2020 NFL Draft, running back was not considered much of a need for the Indianapolis Colts as they have 1,000-yard rusher Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins already on the roster. However, that didn't stop the Colts from pouncing when Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor was available at No. 41 overall – the second of Indy's two second-round picks. Taylor is a +1200 fourth-favorite at William Hill sportsbook to win the 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Mack rushed for 1,091 yards and eight touchdowns last year, but has had a problem staying healthy in his three seasons, yet to play more than 14 games. ESPN's Bill Barnwell suggests the team could attempt to trade Mack with Taylor on board. Perhaps if another team suffers an injury to its top running back like Houston did with Lamar Miller in 2019.
There's also the fact that Mack is in the final year of his contract. Hines and Wilkins are complementary backs, so the Taylor pick does make sense. Colts GM Chris Ballard shipped the 44th and 160th overall picks to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the 41st pick to take Taylor.
All Taylor did as the bell cow at Wisconsin was win the Doak Walker Award twice and Big Ten Running Back of the Year Award twice. He is second all-time in Big Ten history in rushing yards (6,174), which is sixth in FBS history. Taylor was the first player in FBS history to rush for 6,000 yards in three seasons.
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Rather amazingly, Taylor had more 200-yard games (12 – most in FBS history) at Wisconsin than sub-100-yard games (nine). He always ran behind one of the nation's best offensive lines in college and will be behind one of the NFL's best with the Colts. Last year, Indy rushed for more than 2,130 yards as a team, ranking No. 7 in the league.
If there's one knock on Taylor, it's that he lost 15 of his 18 fumbles at Wisconsin. The Colts have had two NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award winners, and both were Top 4 first-round running backs: Marshall Faulk in 1994 and Edgerrin James in 1999. Both are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
| Offensive Rookie of Year favorites |
| Joe Burrow +275 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire +600 |
| Tua Tagovailoa +800 |
| Jonathan Taylor +1200 |
| Henry Ruggs +1400 |
| CeeDee Lamb +1400 |
