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The top 100 NFL players comprise 6% of the almost 1,700 players on active rosters during the season. Three Indianapolis Colts make ESPN 's elite list entering the 2026 season: running back Jonathan Taylor , cornerback Sauce Gardner and guard Quenton Nelson .
Jonathan Taylor, running back, 36th overall
ESPN has Taylor ranked fourth among running backs, behind Atlanta's Bijan Robinson (14th), Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs (18th) and San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey (29th).
"The best news for Taylor in 2026 might be the return of QB Daniel Jones. The Colts were among the best passing teams prior to Jones' season-ending Achilles injury in December, and he's now seemingly back to his pre-injury form. The return brings back the element of the deep ball to Alec Pierce, which proved lethal to opponents. That could lead to lighter tackle boxes for Taylor, who is dominant when he gets to the second level. In games played with Jones, Taylor led the NFL with 3.0 yards after contact."
Signature stat : Taylor has averaged 90.5 rushing yards per game in his career. With a minimum of 50 games played, that's the fifth most in NFL history behind Hall of Famers Jim Brown (104.3), Barry Sanders (99.8), Terrell Davis (97.5) and Eric Dickerson (90.8).
2026 projections : 325 carries, 1,500 rushing yards, 12 TDs; 51 receptions, 390 receiving yards, 1 TD
Sauce Gardner, cornerback, 43rd
Gardner is ranked seventh among corners. Denver's Pat Surtain is in the top spot, 7th overall.
"A calf strain hampered Gardner following the midseason blockbuster trade that brought him to Indianapolis, preventing the team from fully integrating him into its plans. But he should be more impactful in 2026 with a full training camp under his belt and a defense built, in part, around his skill set. Only the Titans' Alontae Taylor has more pass breakups than Gardner's 39 since 2022, his rookie season."
Signature stat : Last season, Gardner induced tight coverage on 29% of his snaps, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That was the second-highest rate in the NFL (minimum of 200 coverage snaps).
2026 projections : 66 tackles, 16 PDs, 2 INTs
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Quenton Nelson, guard, 54th
Nelson is ranked fourth among interior offensive linemen. Kansas City center Creed Humphrey is 31st.
"There has not been any obvious decline in Nelson's game, making his 30th birthday rather irrelevant in the short term. At left guard, he helps anchor a Colts offensive line that has stayed solid since he was drafted in 2018. With Jonathan Taylor in the backfield and Daniel Jones under center, Nelson is central to the Colts' fortunes in 2026. Look for him to build off his career-best 95.5% pass block win rate last season."
Signature stat : Nelson's six All-Pro selections since 2018 are the most by any offensive lineman across that span.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter .
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: ESPN top 100 NFL players: Which Indianapolis Colts make the list?
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