The Indianapolis Colts enter 2026 with three major NFL contract decisions approaching at once, as Jonathan Taylor, Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner are all headed into the final seasons of their current deals.
Colts Have Three Cornerstones In Contract Years
ESPN reported that Taylor, Nelson and Buckner have combined for $277.9 million in career earnings so far, which reflects their status in Indianapolis rather neatly. These are not fringe roster calls. They are three of the Colts' most accomplished players, and each case comes with a different football and financial calculation.
Taylor is 27 and entering his sixth NFL season. Nelson is 30 with eight seasons behind him. Buckner is 32 and entering his 10th year. The Colts' question is not whether any of them has mattered. It is how long Indianapolis should keep paying premium money for each role while trying to return to the postseason after missing it in each of the past five seasons.
Jonathan Taylor Contract Comes With Workload Question
Taylor's case starts with production. He rushed for 1,431 yards in 2024 and 1,585 yards in 2025, then led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns last season. He has also twice led the league in rushing attempts, including in 2025, which gives both sides an argument.
For Taylor, the workload supports the desire for security before the contract expires. ESPN noted that Taylor preferred a deal before free agency last time, too, when his 2023 talks with the Colts turned into a public standoff before he signed an extension and returned in Week 5.
For Indianapolis, the question is wear. Coach Shane Steichen said last week that "it's hard to take him off the field when he's running so good," and that logic could mean another heavy season. Taylor's current deal averages $14 million per year, while ESPN cited recent running back deals for Saquon Barkley at $20.6 million per year and De'Von Achane at $16 million per year.
Nelson And Buckner Present Different Colts Calls
Nelson's situation is cleaner on the field. The guard is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, was first-team All-Pro in each of his first three seasons and has three second-team All-Pro selections. He has missed only four of a possible 133 games, and the Colts made him the highest-paid guard in NFL history with a four-year extension in 2022.
The timing also helps Nelson. Indianapolis has a young offensive line forming around him, including 28-year-old left tackle Bernhard Raimann. Even with general manager Chris Ballard and Steichen considered to be under pressure in 2026, keeping an elite guard in place would give the next version of the Colts a stable starting point.
Buckner's case is more complicated. ESPN described him as the Colts' most impactful defensive player during his six seasons with the team, but he is 32 and coming off neck surgery caused by a disc pressing on a nerve. The injury made him miss seven of the Colts' final eight games and led him to evaluate whether he wanted to keep playing.
Buckner has been cleared by doctors, is rehabbing and is aiming to be ready by the start of training camp. That is important, but it does not remove the contract risk. The Colts have three respected veterans, three very different age curves and one offseason calendar moving toward them. Their 2026 decisions will say as much about the franchise's next phase as any depth-chart move in June.