Quarterback Daniel Jones is set to sign a one-year, $14 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts. Reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed this news on Tuesday.
Jones was considered for a return to the Minnesota Vikings but will now compete with 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback position in 2025.
The Vikings currently have J.J. McCarthy as their only potential starter, following the departure of Sam Darnold to the Seattle Seahawks and Nick Mullens to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brett Rypien is still on the roster but is not expected to start.
Last season, Jones wrapped up his time with the New York Giants and spent the final two months on the Vikings’ practice squad. He started the first ten games of the season after recovering from a torn ACL but struggled with only two wins. This prompted the Giants to demote him to third on the depth chart to avoid risking an injury that could lock him into a longer contract.
After leaving the Giants, Jones joined the Vikings, even knowing he might not see any game action. The coaching staff was committed to reviving Darnold’s career, so Jones shared the sidelines with other quarterbacks, learning and adapting.
Although he joined the Vikings’ active roster for the playoffs, he didn’t play in their wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. His involvement guarantees he will factor into the team’s future compensatory picks for 2026.
Selected as the No. 6 pick in the 2019 draft, Jones has played in 69 games over six seasons. He has only thrown more than 15 touchdown passes in one season—his rookie year, where he had 24 touchdowns. His standout year came in 2022, leading the Giants to their only playoff appearance during his time there, throwing for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just five interceptions.
In total, Jones has amassed 14,582 passing yards with 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions throughout his career. His transition to the Colts offers him a fresh start and a chance to prove himself as a starting quarterback.
