Three Indianapolis Colts stars made Pete Prisco's Top 100 NFL Players of 2026 list.
The Indianapolis Colts desperately need to break their five-year playoff drought in 2026, and they'll need their stars to play as such.
Recently, CBS Sports' Pete Prisco released his annual NFL Top 100 Players list, and three Colts players who will be counted on heavily made the cut.
32. RB Jonathan Taylor
"He finished third in the league in rushing with 1,585 yards and a 4.9 average," Prisco wrote. "He scored 20 touchdowns, including 18 on the ground. He remains one of the game's best runners. (Last season: No. 50)"
Taylor was a bona fide superstar and legitimate non-quarterback MVP candidate for much of last season. Through 10 weeks, going into the Colts' bye week, Taylor already had 1,399 yards from scrimmage and 17 total touchdowns. Not only was he running as well as he ever had, but his pass-catching and pass protection were the best we've seen from him as well.
The wheels came off of Taylor and the entire team after the bye week. Quarterback Daniel Jones began to deal with injuries, ultimately losing him for the year. By the time Philip Rivers arrived, the Colts weren't lining up under center anymore, which greatly affected Taylor's production.
Ultimately, Taylor made the Pro Bowl and still led the NFL in carries (323), rushing first downs (84), rushing touchdowns (18), and total touchdowns (20). He was second in touches (369), and No. 3 in rushing yards (1,585), and yards from scrimmage (1,963), No. 8 among running backs in receiving first downs (15), and tied for 10th in yards per carry (4.9).
38. G Quenton Nelson
"He returned to star form in 2025 after a few seasons when his play wasn't quite what it was early in his career," stated Prisco. "He was good in both pass protection and the run game. (Last season: No. 80)"
Nelson made the Pro Bowl for an eighth consecutive season and was named Second-Team All-Pro in 2025. According to Pro Football Focus, Nelson was one of just 12 full-time guards to allow one or zero sacks (Nelson had one), and his pass-block efficiency rating of 98.7 ranked second among those players. His run-block grade of 84.5 was fourth among all NFL guards.
Behind Nelson, the Colts' offense set a historic pace in the first half of last season. Ultimately, they finished second in the league in rushing touchdowns (27) and tied for 10th in yards per carry (4.5).
Dec 28, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; IIndianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) and cornerback Sauce Gardner (1) warm up before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images48. Sauce Gardner
"His play wasn't elite last season, but the tools are still there," Prisco continued. "For what the Colts gave up to get him (two first-round picks) he better be elite this year. (Last season: No. 24)"
The Colts gave up a fortune for Gardner: their first-round pick in each of the 2026 and 2027 drafts, and wide receiver AD Mitchell. Gardner's initial debut with the Colts didn't go as planned, as he was hampered by a calf injury after playing just two full games.
Still, PFF considered Gardner a top-10 corner. He allowed a completion percentage when targeted of just 48.6%, with nine forced incompletions and a forced incompletion rate of 26%, which was tied for second-highest among all NFL cornerbacks. Gardner also had an opponent passer rating of 87.9.
Now, he is entrenched as a Colt and has a full offseason with the team under his belt. He's already taking on a leadership role and is catching attention around the facility.
