The Indianapolis Colts don't appear to need another quarterback. The hope is that Daniel Jones will return quickly, possibly by Week 1, and be great. Indy also has Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard. If anything, the team has one too many quarterbacks currently.
That didn't stop one NFL writer from suggesting Indy make a move for a new QB. The idea doesn't appear to be rooted in logic, however.
Anthony Palacios of Last Word on Sports suggested, while claiming a "source" that appears to be the San Francisco Chronicle (therefore, if that is the source, not exactly the definition of one specifically for Palacios), that San Francisco could be high enough on seventh-round draft pick Kurtis Rourke to make him QB2 for the 49ers.
NFL writer suggests the Indianapolis Colts make a trade for the San Francisco 49ers' Mac Jones
Talk about Jones being traded has been bandied about throughout the offseason, mostly because he has no path to being a long-term starter, and, based on his play in 2025 when starter Brock Purdy was injured, Jones could offer some high draft value.
Linking Mac Jones to the Colts is a massive stretch, however, and only complicates an issue that already exists. Palacios is presupposing that Anthony Richardson, who requested a trade soon after the 2025 season ended, will suddenly have a trade possibility materialize. Palacios is also seemingly assuming that Richardson is the clear QB2 for Indy.
That isn't the case. Richardson might not get traded, but he could also be QB3 for the very reason that Palacios suggests Rourke could be the 49ers' backup to Purdy. That is, Rourke is "new and cheaper" than Jones, whereas for Indianapolis, Riley Leonard is new and cheaper than Richardson.
The Last Word on Sports writer completely leaving Leonard out of the reasoning for his suggestion that Mac Jones could come to the Colts to be QB2 behind Daniel Jones indicates that Palacios might not be totally aware of the Indy quarterback situation. Leonard and Richardson will be battling for the QB2 spot in training camp.
Plus, adding Mac Jones doesn't clear up the Indianapolis Colts QB issue. If anything, it's worse. Leonard could be a good backup quarterback in the NFL, based on how well he did in Week 18 last season while starting against a great Houston Texans defense. Jones would simply be added to take reps away from Leonard, who would be cheaper than Jones.
A move for Jones also wouldn't be wise for Indy because it means giving up draft capital, likely in the middle rounds, that the Colts cannot afford in 2027. The team doesn't have a first-round choice because general manager Chris Ballard traded that selection to the New York Jets as part of the Sauce Gardner trade in the middle of last season.
Something would also need to happen with Anthony Richardson before a trade for Mac Jones would occur, and the San Francisco 49ers are unlikely to want or need Richardson. The truth is that Anthony Palacios's suggestion that the Colts could entertain a trade for Mac Jones has more questions than answers.
Palacios suggests that Daniel Jones could revert to his form when he was with the New York Giants and would need a replacement sooner rather than later. Mac Jones has just as good a chance as reverting to his previous form with the New England Patriots, too. That would make the Colts a double loser at the position.
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