It’s been a confusing stretch under centre for the Indianapolis Colts in recent years, but the team will hope some competition at the spot will be beneficial long-term.
The Colts are finalizing a move to acquire quarterback Daniel Jones on a one-year, $14-million deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Minnesota Vikings were another team in the mix for the veteran QB’s services, but the potential of fighting for the starting job in Indianapolis enticed him.
The 27-year-old will now compete with signal caller Anthony Richardson, who has struggled mightily with injuries, inconsistency and ball security in his first two seasons in the NFL since being drafted fourth overall in 2023.
Jones was released by the New York Giants in November after crawling to a 2-8 record over the team’s first 10 games. He threw for 2,070 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions before being benched and eventually cut.
Following his release, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad and was eventually signed to the team’s active roster in time for the playoffs. However, he did not make an appearance for the NFC North side.
Drafted sixth overall by the Giants in 2019, Jones had played all six of his seasons in the Big Apple, tallying 14,582 yards with 70 touchdowns, 47 interceptions and 50 fumbles over 70 career appearances.
He signed a four-year, $160-million contract with the Giants ahead of the 2023 season that came with $92 million guaranteed. He wound up only playing two seasons on the deal.
Indianapolis, meanwhile, has been in dire need of stability under centre and has been scuffling at the position since stalwart Andrew Luck retired prematurely in 2019.
Richardson, the presumed incumbent at the position, has only appeared in 15 games over his two seasons in the NFL. He has 2,391 passing yards with 11 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and 12 fumbles for his career, but has shown an ability to do damage as a dual-threat QB, rushing for an additional 635 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The team went into the off-season hoping to shake things up at the position and create a QB competition to push Richardson to develop.
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