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NFL rumors: 3 teams that should go all-in on Jonathan Taylor trade, 1 wild card to watch

By Cody Williams

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 02: Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts on the field in the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 02: Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts on the field in the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Jonathan Taylor trade rumors landing spots
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 24: Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

2. Bears could build NFL’s best rushing offense with Jonathan Taylor trade

Justin Fields wowed us all last season, his second campaign as QB1 for the Chicago Bears. The former first-round pick progressed as a passer from his brief rookie season, though he still left something to be desired as he completed just 60.4% of his throws for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

With his legs, however, he was virtually unstoppable. Fields rushed 160 times in the 2022 season for an unreal 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns, giving him a league-leading 7.1 yards per carry average for the year. If he can marry that with an improve passing offense — a reasonable expectation given the additions of D.J. Moore, Tyler Scott and a competent corps of pass-catchers overall in addition to improving the offensive line — he can be a superstar.

It’s also a prove-it year for Fields in year three with the Bears, though. And a big part of that is obviously him making strides as a passer… but it’s also him simply making the offense more dynamic. Trading for Jonathan Taylor to combine one of the best backs in the NFL with arguably the most dynamic rushing quarterback in the league would be a phenomenal start to that.

David Montomgery’s offseason departure in free agency has left the Bears with Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman and rookie Roschon Johnson on the depth chart at the position. Not a single one of those players would stand in the way of Taylor.

But even better, Taylor would come cheap for a team rich with draft capital after this past offseason and, if they need to hit reset on Fields, they could allow him to hit free agency and get the deal he wants elsewhere. It’s a win-win for the best way to evaluate the quarterback and the team’s core while also having flexibility to pivot if things don’t work out should they make this trade.

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