The NFL trade deadline is November 10, which means some current Indianapolis Colts players could be playing their final game for the team in Week 9. One of those players is quarterback Daniel Jones.
The word that should come to mind when Jones is mentioned in any potential trade is "why?" If a second thought happens, it should be, "Well, why not?"
Why would any team want to trade for Jones? What is it about his performance through most of his career, and especially how he has played in 2026, that would make any organization think, "We should trade valuable draft assets for that guy because he is going to make us better."
Why would any team want to trade for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones?
Jones shouldn't even be starting for the Colts, and he might not be if any other person were coaching the team than Shane Steichen. Any potential deal involving Jones leaving would seem to be from an Indy-centric view rather than from another team's perspective.
Indianapolis needs to shed itself of the quarterback. Another team shouldn't actively want to acquire him. Again, why would they want to?
Daniel Jones is currently in his eighth season, and he has a career quarterback rating of 85.0, which isn't good in the current NFL. He has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 94-64. Not good either.
But in 2026, he's been atrocious. He has five touchdown passes and nine interceptions and a horrid quarterback rating of 68.7. Some of that can be blamed on the offense not having the explosive Alec Pierce, but a good quarterback would still be able to survive without one player. Jones has failed miserably.
Every game, he throws a few passes that one watching might ask, "What was he thinking?" Jones could easily have 13 or more interceptions at this point. Several potential picks have been dropped. The same can't be said of potential touchdown catches.
Trading Jones would be a gift. The Indianapolis Colts need to rebuild, and the best way to help do that is to add draft picks. Whatever the team could get for the quarterback would be a win. Plus, the team wouldn't have to pay the second season of Jones' two-year deal.
If Indy releases or trades Jones, the team saves $38 million in 2027. Whether he is traded or not, that needs to happen. Jones isn't going to help the team achieve high-level success. The $38 million saved would be more than enough to sign a veteran quarterback who could be a bridge to the next long-term quarterback.
Of course, a team acquiring Jones would have to theoretically pay the quarterback what his contract pays him in 2027. Again, why would a team do that? Jones hasn't proven good enough to earn that money. What is clear is that Jones' representation, Athletes First, is just brilliant at what they do to get their client paid so much money.
The Indianapolis Colts are unlikely to trade Daniel Jones, though. His play and contract make the move challenging. Also, Shane Steichen would hate to lose a player he admires so much.
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