Account
Anonymous Exec Rips Colts' Jonathan Taylor: 'Doesn't Play Big and He Fumbles'
May 2, 2020
Despite being one of the most successful college running backs of his era, at least one NFL team executive is skeptical Jonathan Taylor can have a significant impact as a professional.
Per The Athletic's Mike Sando on Friday, an anonymous executive was "shocked" by the Indianapolis Colts' decision to trade up to select Taylor at No. 41.
"He bounces stuff outside a lot," the executive said of Taylor. "He is a big guy that runs fast, but he doesn't play big and he fumbles."
Taylor joined former Wisconsin star Ron Dayne and Iowa State's Troy Davis as the only running backs in college football history with multiple seasons of at least 2,000 rushing yards, breaking the threshold in 2018 (2,194) and 2019 (2,003).
The only season Taylor didn't break 2,000 rushing yards was during his freshman campaign in 2017, when he had 1,977 yards.
While those rushing totals are impressive, Taylor's knack for giving up the football is a concern. He had 18 fumbles (15 lost) in 41 career college games.
B/R's Matt Miller noted Taylor could end up as a two-down back in the NFL because he "has to prove himself as a route-runner and pass-catcher."
The Colts must think highly of Taylor's all-around skill set to have moved up three spots and give up a fifth-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns for the right to select him early in the second round.
Wisconsin rarely asked Taylor to act as a receiver out of the backfield, though he did set career highs with 252 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 26 receptions in 2019.