INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts tonight sent the 44th- and the 160th-overall picks to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the 41st-overall selection in the second round, using that pick to take unanimous All-American running back Jonathan Taylor out of Wisconsin.
Taylor, 21, who stands at 5-foot-10 and weighs 226 pounds, is a two-time winner of the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the top running back in college football. In his three seasons at Wisconsin, he logged 926 rushing attempts for 6,174 yards (6.7 yards per attempt) with 50 touchdowns, as well as 42 receptions for 407 yards and five scores through the air.
In his NFL.com draft profile, draft analyst Lance Zierlein writes Taylor is a "supremely productive, well-built runner with an all-day, every-day mentality that helped lead him to three Big Ten rushing titles."
"Taylor runs with bend and burst as an outside runner and has home-run speed once he gets into the open field," Zierlein writes. "He displays an ability to weave around interior traffic but might have evolved into more of a thinker than reactor inside due to fumbling issues and the litany of loaded fronts he faced. His patience and understanding of the where/when of blocks allowed him to thrive in multiple run schemes. He's more body puncher than knockout artist, wearing down his opponents with carry after carry. His traits, toughness and talent should make him an early starter with a solid ceiling and more third-down potential than we saw at Wisconsin."
Taylor adds his talents to an already-deep Colts running back room that also includes the likes of Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins.
The Colts are next scheduled to have the 11th pick of the third round (75th overall).
Taylor adds his talents to an already-deep Colts running back room that also includes the likes of Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins.
The Colts are next scheduled to have the 11th pick of the third round (75th overall).
Get your first look at running back Jonathan Taylor after he was selected 41st overall by the Indianapolis Colts.
Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor (23) carries the ball during an NCAA Big Ten Conference college football game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Badgers 38-17. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)
Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor celebrates a touchdown against Michigan State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin won 38-0. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor catches a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin won 24-22. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor runs during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor (23) carries the ball during an NCAA Big Ten Conference college football game against the Michigan State Spartans Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Madison, Wis. The Badgers won 38-0. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)
Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor (23) carries the ball during an NCAA Big Ten Conference college football game against the Michigan Wolverines Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Madison, Wis. The Badgers won 35-14. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)
Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor (23) carries the ball during an NCAA Big Ten Championship college football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes won 34-21. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)
Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor (23) carries the ball during an NCAA college football game against the Purdue Boilermakers Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Madison, Wis. The Badgers won 45-24. (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)
FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2019, file photo, Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor (23) runs for a touchdown past Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade (24) during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game, in Indianapolis. Taylor was selected to The Associated Press All-Big Ten Conference team, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor poses on set for the NFL network film crew during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2019, file photo, Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor runs against Michigan during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Madison, Wis. Taylor was selected to the AP Midseason All-America NCAA college football team, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Andy Manis, File)
Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
