The Indianapolis Colts are going to do something with quarterback Daniel Jones soon, and that might mean applying the transition tag to try to keep the quarterback. If general manager Chris Ballard does that, it would be in error, but maybe bringing Jones back at all would be, too.
Applying the transition tag means that Indianapolis would need to pay the QB a bit over $37 million for 2026 if another team doesn't scoop Jones up and the Colts don't work out a long-term deal with the quarterback. That is a lot of money, but only relative to how much normal human beings make, not NFL quarterbacks.
But the transition tag would mean Jones can still negotiate with other teams, and if he signs elsewhere, Indy gets nothing back in return. The franchise tag is only $6 million more, and if Jones left, Indianapolis would get the equivalent of two first-round picks for losing him. In other words, Ballard would be choosing the cheap way out in a move that doesn't keep the team safe.
Bringing Daniel Jones back is still a huge gamble for the Indianapolis Colts
Beyond the tags and any long-term extension with Daniel Jones, though, the way Chris Ballard has handled the entire situation isn't good. After giving up the team's next two first-round picks for cornerback Sauce Gardner this past season. Ballard left himself no way out if Jones doesn't return.
The Colts had to re-sign Jones, and had no real options otherwise. The free agent class for QBs isn't deep, nor overly good, and neither is the 2026 quarterback draft class. It was all-in on Jones or nothing, and he might not be worth a long-term contract.
Sure, the Indianapolis Colts' offense was humming in the first half of the 2025 season, but fans shouldn't forget that only injuries were the issue with the diminishment in efficiency. Jones began turning the ball over a lot more. In Weeks 9 and 10 combined, Jones had four interceptions and three fumbles lost.
Indy lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and should have lost to the Atlanta Falcons in overtime, and would have except for running back Jonathan Taylor going off for 288 total yards. In the following two weeks (both losses), Jones didn't have any turnovers, but did complete 61.3 and 51.9 percent of his passes, respectively, both season-lows. He was injured in Week 14 and out for the rest of the year.
Daniel Jones did have a career-year for the Indianapolis Colts in 2025 with easily his best quarterback rating (100.2) and completion percentage (68.0), but are those numbers to expect moving forward, or just a one-half season of greatness? Indy fans better hope for the former, assuming Jones returns to the team for several more seasons.