Daniel Jones has certainly experienced a rollercoaster career in the NFL during his seven seasons since being the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Now, at the start of the 2026 legal tampering period, Jones has high expectations for the money he is due.
Daniel Jones Reportedly Expects $50 Million Per Year
The New York Giants surprised the majority of NFL media and fans when they made Jones the 6th overall draft pick in 2019. The result was subpar, to say the least, as the Giants went on to have one winning season in his time as quarterback (9-7-1 in 2022). New York responded by allowing Jones to test free agency after the 2024 season, leading the Indianapolis Colts to sign him to a one-year deal.
2025 was a resurgence for Jones, with an 8-5 record as a starter, 3,101 yards, and 19 touchdowns against 8 interceptions. He operated the Colts offense with a poise and command that had been missing in New York, and now Jones and his camp believe that is worth quite a bit of money.
Albert Breer reported on Monday that after the Colts offered Jones a deal worth close to $100 million for three years, the response was that he was worth closer to $50 million per season.
Ryan Dunleavy of NY Post Sports was quick to point out that the distance between the two sides isn’t as bad as it may appear. “Just a $17M per year gap. Considering Daniel Jones asked Giants for $48M per year in 2023, did #Colts really think he was going to take $33M per year now? Cmon,” Dunleavy posted, quoting the announcement via Stampede Blue.
The official account for Indy Sports One didn’t seem to think much of Jones’ expectations, responding to the announcement with a very succinct, “Excuse me?”
Excuse me? https://t.co/L693kiq39s pic.twitter.com/a7ukGYh4Wo
— Indy SportsOne (@IndySportsOne) March 9, 2026
Senior NFL Columnist for CBS Sports, Pete Prisco, was also unimpressed with the number Jones and his camp had reportedly requested from the Colts. “Daniel Jones wants $50 million a year. OK,” Prisco wrote on Monday in a post dripping with his sarcastic reaction to the situation.
Daniel Jones wants $50 million a year. OK.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) March 9, 2026
Dan Duggan, senior writer for The Athletic, where he covers the Giants, was skeptical of Jones reaching for the $50 million range when the $38 million transition tag the Colts gave him was, according to Duggan, more than enough considering the Achilles injury.
“This is a Daniel Jones/NFL tweet, so stand down Joe Schoen defenders: Breer reports that the Colts offered $33M/year and Jones’ camp countered at $50M/year. His camp has some brass ones to make that request, considering he’s recovering from a torn Achilles. And it worked! The Colts blinked and gave him the $38M transition tag.
“Jones and his camp have the nerves of a cat burglar at the negotiating table. I get why the Colts didn’t want to mess around at QB, but is Jones really getting more than $38M on the open market with the Achilles? And now they’re going to have to pay Alec Pierce more than the WR franchise tag to keep him. Jones continues to put on an NFL business clinic,” Duggan posted on Monday, making several excellent points along the way.
This is a Daniel Jones/NFL tweet, so stand down Joe Schoen defenders: Breer reports that the Colts offered $33M/year and Jones’ camp countered at $50M/year. His camp has some brass ones to make that request considering he’s recovering from a torn Achilles. And it worked! The… https://t.co/NGB3EWVzAx
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) March 9, 2026
Since Duggan made the post, Alec Pierce was signed to a massive $116-million contract, making Jones’ $50-million ask a much more complex situation. While it is certainly true that Jones ran the Colts offense with skill and success in 2025, an Achilles injury isn’t something one waltzes back from.
In the end, the Colts may decide that $50 million is too rich for their blood, or the Jones camp could back away from their reported requests. Either way, this can’t be a cloud over Indianapolis heading into a 2026 campaign with already-high expectations.
