The Indianapolis Colts were expected to always bring back quarterback Daniel Jones, even though he reportedly asked for as much as $50 million a season in a new deal. The team slapped the transition tag on the QB, and the two sides reportedly agreed to terms on a new deal as free agency got underway.
The move was a must for Indy, of course. Wide receiver Alec Pierce agreed to terms with Indy at the beginning of unofficial free agency on a four-year deal that pays him as much as $116 million. Indy then dealt expensive wideout Michael Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jones had to come back to make it work.
In the end, the Colts gave Jones everything he wanted. His new deal, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, is for two years and as much as $100 million, so $50 million a season. That is the most expensive two-season deal in NFL history.
Indianapolis Colts agree to terms with Daniel Jones in an attempt to bring back the first half of 2025
The team is attempting to run back the magic from the first half of 2025 that it can. Indy started 7-1, and was seemingly destined for the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Then, injuries hit many key players, and the quality of competition had a big uptick. But there was another concern, too.
Jones was brilliant in the first eight games and a great fit in head coach Shane Steichen's system, but he had his flaws. In Weeks 9 and 10 combined, the quarterback had seven turnovers. Defenses appeared to figure him out a bit and understood his ball security was not elite when he was under pressure in the pocket.
The #Colts are locking in their QB, finalizing a deal with Daniel Jones to secure the most important position, per me and @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2026
It’s a 2-year, $100M contract done by his agents at @AthletesFirst. The biggest two-year deal in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/Y5NuKb87xr
Was that simply a small sample-size of a problem that was easily correctable? For the Colts to succeed in the future with Jones behind center, it needs to be. The quarterback washed out with the New York Giants, his first team, so he hasn't yet proven to be a great long-term fit anywhere.
Hopefully, that will happen with the Indianapolis Colts. For Ballard and Steichen to keep their jobs, the quarterback play has to be excellent, and Jones needs to provide that excellence. He also needs Alec Pierce to be great while getting more than 100 targets.
It is all a gamble, and could be costly to the team's future. The hope, however, is that Steichen found the quarterback he needed for his scheme and that translates to a postseason berth next season, and the success just grows from there. Can Daniel Jones be a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback? As much as he will be getting paid, he needs to be.