Slowly but not-so-surely, Daniel Jones has compiled a lofty career earnings total. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback, formerly of the New York Giants, has quietly made more money in contracts than Hall of Famers like Brett Favre and Julius Peppers.
Evidently, being just good enough to get paid at football's most valuable position in today's booming NFL economy certainly comes with its perks. Jones has more interceptions and fumbles than touchdowns and only one playoff appearance (and win) since entering the pros. However, he's outearning legends before his 30th birthday because the Giants fell for him in the worst way — and the Colts ignored the signs.
Like New York, Indianapolis had the chance to move on from Jones following a pleasantly surprising campaign. They both doubled down on him, only to regret it not long after.
Colts are quickly discovering why the Giants gave up on Daniel Jones
If Jones has shown us anything, it's that he's financially motivated; his best seasons happened on an expiring salary. The Duke product pulled a rabbit out of a hat in 2022, leading the G-Men to a shocking Wild Card upset, then cashing in. Joining the Colts on a prove-it deal last offseason also ended with him breaking the bank due to an outlier year.
Then, once Jones has you on the hook at an average annual price tag of $40-plus million, he turns back into a pumpkin. Big Blue Nation had a front-row seat to him crashing back down to earth, and now Indy's experiencing it firsthand.
Through Week 4 of 2026, Jones has been one of the league's least efficient passers. He ranks near the bottom in the following key categories among 41 QBs with at least 35 dropbacks:
- 37th in yards per attempt (5.71)
- 33rd in passer rating (73.9)
- 28th in adjusted completion percentage (73.9)
- 28th in turnover-worthy throw rate (4.5 percent)
It's probably safe to say the Colts might be second-guessing their investment in Jones. They smartly gave themselves a potential out of the two-year pact "worth up to" $100 they signed him to in March after this season. The club could've avoided the situation entirely, though, if they learned from New York's poor decisions.
Whether Indianapolis hits the eject button on Jones and resets with a new signal-caller in 2027 is a fascinating storyline worth monitoring. While moving on seems like a no-brainer to many, he's notably still working his way back to full strength from a torn Achilles tendon suffered last December.
Do the Colts tell themselves a story to keep Daniel Jones (again)?
Many of us have probably said something like, "he can't keep getting away with this," regarding Jones' paydays, and understandably so. His checkered résumé leaves much to be desired, yet teams keep rewarding him. It's borderline insane, frankly.
Nevertheless, if there's any time to give Jones a mulligan, it's when he's less than 365 days removed from a major injury. The fact that the veteran is even out there is a remarkable feat in itself. Perhaps the Colts are keeping his health (or lack thereof) in mind and choose to run it back with him.
Logically, giving Jones another chance would make some sense, especially if there's no clear alternative lined up. That doesn't make retaining him any less of a risk for Indianapolis. For better or worse, his future with the franchise significantly impacts their short- and long-term outlook.
Note: Advanced metrics courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite 2.0 ($).
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