Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is an interesting player. He isn't without athleticism, but he certainly doesn't have the raw skill of Anthony Richardson. Jones does have a better feel for where the ball needs to go on any given play than Richardson, though.
This doesn't mean Jones should be Indy's QB1. Playing their best (if that were to ever consistently happen), Richardson's arm strength and running ability would outweigh Jones's higher football IQ. AR5 creates explosive plays, while Jones is more likely to check down.
In a recent article predicting each game of the NFL season, Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr gives Colts fans a bit of hope by believing the team will go 9-8 in 2025. This means if Indy can steal a win or two, they could be playoff-bound. They just might not get much help from the quarterbacks.
Daniel Jones continues to be Daniel Jones for the Indianapolis Colts
Orr writes of Daniel Jones, "In total transparency, I filed these predictions about a week before the Colts’ preseason opener. And boy was it disappointing to see that Daniel Jones still looks a lot like Daniel Jones...There’s just something about this guy in practice from time to time that leads you to believe all the lights are going to come on and he’s going to fillet a defense (but he never does).
The truth is that in six seasons in the league, Jones has never consistently shown that he can reach a level where he would be considered dangerous. He might be able to lead the team to a shock win (he did so with the New York Giants last year when his team beat the Seattle Seahawks), but he can't do it week after week.
The inconsistency of Daniel Jones is maddening, possibly even more so than Anthony Richardson, because Colts fans know AR5 is capable of splashy plays, but we don't know that he can do anything but that at times.
Jones should be the safer pick at QB1. He doesn't take the chances that Richardson does (and likely shouldn't), so one would think Jones could meticulously lead his team on long drives that allow his offense to score just enough points to help a good defense win games.
That plan has never worked for Jones in the league, however. He has a knack for making critical mistakes in tight games or being inaccurate on a pass that could have been game-changing. There is no reason to think Daniel Jones will ever be more than he is.
Unfortunately for the Indianapolis Colts, that means a quarterback who is slightly better than a good backup, but not good enough to earn a long-term QB1 spot. He might beat out Richardson for the starting spot, but if Indy is going to win nine games, it will be because the rest of the roster is great.