The Indianapolis Colts have major decisions to make this offseason, and the biggest one is what to do at quarterback. 2025 starter Daniel Jones was quite good for most of the season, but he tore his Achilles tendon in Week 14 and could miss the start of 2026.
That is assuming Indy is not outbid by another team. Jones is free to sign anywhere, of course. He was a good fit in head coach Shane Steichen's system, and he knows he can succeed in that position. But the team has to worry about his health as Jones has had three seasons cut short due to getting hurt.
Assuming the Colts don't sign Jones and don't feel comfortable starting Riley Leonard or Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis does have options. To be sure, the options aren't great, but then no one expected Jones to be as good as he was in 2025, either.
Three quarterback options for the Indianapolis Colts if they don't bring back Daniel Jones
Malik Willis
Willis might have figured out what it takes to be an NFL quarterback with the Green Bay Packers. Either that, or Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur is the same kind of quarterback whisperer that Shane Steichen has been, only slightly better.
Still, Willis might be the exact kind of fit that Indy's offense needs, at least temporarily. Willis can run well when needed, and he has shown he can avoid key mistakes that allow his offense to stay on the field and eat clock. Is he a Pro Bowler? Not likely, but he might fit well in Steichen's scheme.
The question is whether Willis can replicate his success elsewhere and stay healthy while doing so. He missed Week 18 for the Packers with injuries when he had a chance to earn himself a lot of money in free agency with a great game.
Mitchell Trubisky
Trubisky has done the same thing with the Buffalo Bills the last couple of seasons that Willis did with the Packers, only in fewer reps. He hasn't started a game, but has played in 13 and completed 72 percent of his 61 pass attempts. He has also tossed six touchdowns in those throws, and his touchdown percentage in 2025 is a ridiculous 11.4.
Trubisky was chosen second overall in the 2017 NFL draft, and that was always going to be a bit of an overdraft. He simply wasn't ready to play immediately in the league after starting for just one season at North Carolina. He might be ready to play his best football in his early 30s after bouncing around the league a bit.
The other potential positive is that Trubisky could be a good fit for Shane Steichen. The quarterback isn't going to turn the ball over much, and can also run a bit when needed. He'd also not be expensive.
Kenny Pickett
Again, to be clear, none of these quarterbacks is ideal, and each has had their issues in their careers. The Indianapolis Colts might have to sign one of these three QBs to an inexpensive, incentive-laden contract and hope they can be a quality starter until Indy finds its new long-term quarterback.
Like Trubisky, Pickett was overdrafted when the Pittsburgh Steelers took him in the first round of the 2022 draft. His arm strength is definitely in question, but he is a smart quarterback who can maybe make the Colts offense efficient.
Ultimately, the Colts could very well re-sign Daniel Jones and hope that he can return early in the 2026 season. The team could even start Riley Leonard over Anthony Richardson early next season, but Jones, Leonard, or Richardson might be Indy's starter in 2028 and beyond.