The Colts agreed with quarterback Daniel Jones to return on a two-year, $88-million contract, with incentives related to wins, postseason wins, playing time, and awards pushing it to a maximum $100 million. $50 million is fully guaranteed at signing, $60 million is guaranteed with injury. In an oddity, it's the highest value two-year deal in NFL history.
Jones, 28, had been on the transition tag, which would have guaranteed him $37.8 million in 2026. He had a breakout season with Indianapolis in 2026, before tearing his Achilles in Week 14 against the Jaguars, going 8-5, completing 68 percent of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, leading the NFL in passing success rate (a stat related to yards gained on specific downs).
Jones is expected to be back by Week 1 or Week 2, though his availability for training camp will be minimal.
My take: No choices for Indy, really. If they didn't sign Jones, they would have had slim pickings on the free agent market — Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins — and the trade market is rarely good for quality QBs. Still, though it's a lot of money, the $44 million AAV is smack dab in the middle of the pack for NFL starters, so a fair deal for both sides.
THE ASYLUM
Colts sign QB Jones
The Colts agreed with quarterback Daniel Jones to return on a two-year, $88-million contract, with incentives related to wins, postseason wins, playing time, and awards pushing it to a maximum $100 million. $50 million is fully guaranteed at signing, $60 million is guaranteed with injury. In an oddity, it's the highest value two-year deal in NFL history.
Jones, 28, had been on the transition tag, which would have guaranteed him $37.8 million in 2026. He had a breakout season with Indianapolis in 2026, before tearing his Achilles in Week 14 against the Jaguars, going 8-5, completing 68 percent of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, leading the NFL in passing success rate (a stat related to yards gained on specific downs).
Jones is expected to be back by Week 1 or Week 2, though his availability for training camp will be minimal.
My take: No choices for Indy, really. If they didn't sign Jones, they would have had slim pickings on the free agent market — Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins — and the trade market is rarely good for quality QBs. Still, though it's a lot of money, the $44 million AAV is smack dab in the middle of the pack for NFL starters, so a fair deal for both sides.
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