Daniel Jones has had a very uneven NFL career so far. After a stellar college career at Duke, he was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Despite continuous poor performances, the Giants signed Jones to a four-year deal worth $160 million, only to release him a year later in a surprising turn of events.
Jones then signed with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, where he spent most of the 2025 season. Now, Jones is with the Indianapolis Colts and has a path to the starting job, especially with Anthony Richardson dealing with a shoulder injury.
As a result, one NFL analyst has a bold take for Jones this season.
Daniel Jones Turning Heads in Indianapolis Colts Camp, Making Case for QB1 Role Over Anthony Richardson
Indianapolis marks Jones’ third team in two seasons, but it may also be his best shot at resurrecting his career. The Colts are looking for consistency under center after a revolving door at the position, and Jones brings veteran experience the team hasn’t had since bridge quarterback Joe Flacco last season.
Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com claimed that Jones could win this year’s Comeback Player of the Year award.
“Jones already walked into a great opportunity in Indianapolis because the Colts gave him a chance to compete for the starting job with third-year veteran Anthony Richardson,” Chadiha wrote.
“There’s every reason to believe Jones can win that battle because Richardson, since arriving in Indy as the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, has been wildly inconsistent throughout his career and even lost his job for a couple games last season.”
Jones has taken a path similar to Richardson’s. They were both early picks in the draft and faced a lot of scrutiny early on. Minnesota ultimately moved on from Jones in favor of Sam Darnold, a move that mostly worked out for them, albeit temporarily. Now the Colts look to do something similar.
Working with Shane Steichen could be a breath of fresh air for Jones due to his creative play-calling style, as Chadiha wrote. Steichen was the offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2020 to 2022 and helped mold Jalen Hurts, who just won a Super Bowl last season.
That connection could be pivotal, especially given Steichen’s history of adapting his scheme to suit different quarterback styles. With Jones’ mobility and short-area accuracy, Steichen might lean into a more RPO-heavy approach, similar to what he did with Hurts.
The Colts have a flurry of weapons, most notably wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and running back Jonathan Taylor, so Jones has a lot to like in Indianapolis.
Third-year wideout Josh Downs and first-round rookie tight end Tyler Warren should also give Jones reliable options in the short passing game, which has always been a strength in his game when protected.
So far, Jones has been impressing in camp and has thrown some nice passes.
AP always down there somewhere. pic.twitter.com/APk4Gz9nQe
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) June 11, 2025
As for Richardson, his uncertain injury status presents Jones with a significant opportunity to impress during camp and potentially win the job outright. However, the Colts might have a short leash at the QB position if Jones (or Richardson) struggles.
PFSN NFL Draft analyst Brentley Weismann predicts that the Colts will select a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
For now, though, Jones is taking most of the first-team reps, and if he can string together strong preseason performances, don’t be surprised if he’s under center in Week 1.