Colts’ Daniel Jones Faces Heavy Criticism Over Contract
The Indianapolis Colts find themselves in a difficult position with Anthony Richardson heading into his third year. After a tough 2024 season in which Richardson struggled with passing and turnovers, Chris Ballard felt the need to bring in a veteran quarterback who could potentially return to a starting role.
While bringing in someone like Sam Darnold might have signaled the end of Richardson’s time in Indianapolis, the Colts opted for a safer choice by signing Daniel Jones. Though Jones hasn’t been stellar in his career, he remains eager to start again after playing 70 games and leading the New York Giants’ offense.
However, not everyone believes this is the right move. CBS Sports criticized Jones’ contract, calling him a “winner” for continuing to secure deals despite underperforming. Garrett Podell tore into Jones in a recent article that highlighted the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ of free agency.
“Despite the on-field struggles and the New York Giants absorbing a $22 million dead cap hit for cutting him midseason in 2024, Jones still secured a one-year, $14 million contract with $13.15 million guaranteed from the Colts to compete with Richardson,” Podell wrote. “Nothing Jones has done on the field justifies over $13 million guaranteed, but he and his agent keep winning.”
While harsh, these comments reflect the reality of Jones’ career, which has been plagued by inconsistency, turnovers, and losing records. His last two seasons are particularly concerning. Although the Giants didn’t surround Jones with a star-studded roster outside of Saquon Barkley, he hasn’t made much of an impact through 70 games.
Jones has 70 touchdown passes, 47 interceptions, and 14,582 passing yards, along with a 64.1% completion rate. He also has 47 interceptions and 50 fumbles. While poor offensive line play and his tendency to hold onto the ball have contributed to his struggles, the numbers show Jones is an unreliable quarterback.
In 2023 and 2024, Jones posted a dismal 3-13 record, with only 10 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. If he does start for the Colts, it likely means one of two things: Richardson is either still struggling or injured, leaving Jones to step in for a spot start.
Unless Jones experiences a dramatic career turnaround, similar to Sam Darnold in 2024, it’s unlikely he will beat out Richardson for the starting role. This isn’t to say Jones can’t improve, but given the Colts’ better supporting cast and offensive line, he faces long odds.
While the quarterback competition in Indianapolis will be intriguing to watch, the most probable outcome is that Jones will remain a backup. Unless something drastically changes, expect Richardson to be the unquestioned starter.
That said, there is a small chance that Jones could rise to the occasion if Richardson fails to meet expectations in 2025. This quarterback battle will be worth keeping an eye on as the offseason progresses toward the preseason and regular season.
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