According to NFL Network’s Rich Eisen on ‘The Rich Eisen Show,’ the name that he heard most among league circles at the NFL Combine for the Indianapolis Colts upcoming quarterback competition was ex-New York Giants franchise quarterback hopeful (now upcoming free agent) Daniel Jones (via Underdog Fantasy’s Josh Norris):
The former 6th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New York Giants was one considered a potential elite quarterback in time, but essentially played his way out of the Big Apple’s good graces.
While his 2022 campaign once earned him a 4-year, $160 million contract extension, Jones struggled with inconsistency and turnovers when healthy the past two seasons—although he tore his ACL in 2023, which cost him the final 11 games of that season for New York.
Jones is coming off another disappointing season for the Giants in which he completed 216 of 341 pass attempts (63.3%) for 2,070 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions during 10 starts before being declared a healthy inactive because of his poor play, later waived, and then subsequently signed by the Minnesota Vikings as a backup quarterback.
Having rushed for 2,179 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns during his once fairly promising 6-year career, just like Colts’ projected 3rd-year starter Anthony Richardson, Jones does possess some dual-threat mobility—meaning Indy could still run RPO’s and similar offensive play-calling under head coach Shane Steichen regardless of who’s the starter.
That being said, is Jones really the competition that’s going to ideally push Richardson to be the best version of himself this offseason and throughout this summer’s training camp?
The free agency quarterback market isn’t great and more veteran or simply better options such as Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson don’t necessarily make as much sense because the Colts still want to place Richardson in a position to win the starting job outright.
Perhaps someone like Justin Fields, who projects to be the top choice on a lot of Colts fans lists may prove to be expensive—or have a better QB1 opportunity elsewhere, so who does that leave for Indianapolis?
Jones?
Maybe Jameis Winston?
Jacoby Brissett for a veteran mentor?
Athletic reclamation projects such as Trey Lance or Zach Wilson?
Jones isn’t a great option for me—or my first choice either for that matter.
However, if Fields proves to be too expensive, he at least has some experience with 69 career starts for the Giants to at least somewhat push Richardson in camp and keep the offensive playbook the same—while saving salary cap space to hopefully fill other roster holes.