After a strong debut season as quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, Daniel Jones will use the upcoming offseason to recover from surgery. What does the future hold for both Jones and the organization, especially regarding their continued partnership?
NFL Insider Predicts QB Daniel Jones to Return to the Indianapolis Colts
After six seasons and a record of 32-49-1 with the New York Giants, Jones inked a one-year deal worth $13.8 million. As a result, he authored a 13-game stretch where the former first-rounder completed passes at a career-high percentage (68%).
Additionally, Jones adopted a more aggressive tactic with downfield passing, resulting in 8.1 yards per attempt, 1.6 yards more than his career average with the Giants. With this strong showing, NFL insider Adam Schefter joined “The Pat McAfee Show” to discuss the quarterback’s future.
“I think the Colts are banking on Daniel Jones being back, and I do think that they’ll re-sign him… I think that he will be ready for the start of the season. And if that’s the case, the Colts don’t need to sign Malik Willis.”
“I think the Colts are banking on Daniel Jones being back and I do think that they’ll re-sign him..
I think that he will ready for the start of the season”@AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/F7BZKkCGe0
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 29, 2025
The potential re-signing of Jones makes the most sense for Indianapolis, especially considering their trade of the next two first-round picks for Sauce Gardner. That move limited their ability to grab anyone early. While the signing of Gardner did provide the defense with an All-Pro cornerback, the move drains draft capital.
Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture on December 7. At the time, Indianapolis sat at 8-4, looking in control of a playoff spot. Since then, the team lost four consecutive games and was eliminated from the playoff hunt. Jones played a role in turning the Colts’ offense around, holding the No. 3 spot in PFSN’s NFL Offense Impact metric.
Meanwhile, Anthony Richardson’s injury history and subpar play further clear the way for Jones’ return. Richardson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, logged just 17 games of field time in his career, completing 50.6% of his passes and sporting an 8-7 record in 15 starts. As a result, the Colts will probably decline his fifth-year option, freeing them from any financial entanglements.
Jones’ excellent year works in his favor, but his early-career struggles help Indianapolis in negotiations. While the quarterback market is expected to flourish, Jones already knows the personnel and scheme that the Colts run. Therefore, a three-year deal worth around $100 million could be just enough to satisfy both parties.
The AFC South remains fiercely competitive. With the Texans and Jaguars led by young, proven quarterbacks CJ Stroud and Trevor Lawrence, the Colts require stability under center. To secure a playoff berth and contend for the division, the franchise must achieve consistency at the quarterback position.
Since Andrew Luck’s 2019 retirement, seven players have led the Colts in passing. In that span, they have reached the playoffs only once, in 2020, with Philip Rivers at quarterback. Jones, based on his strong fit within the offense, could be the long-term solution.
