According to multiple league sources, Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback Daniel Jones, who was just re-signed on Wednesday afternoon to a 2-year, $88 million deal, which can be worth up to $100 million, has had some of his specific contract details emerge:
While it’s a short-term deal for the Colts, this looks like a big win for Jones and his camp, as with performance based incentives, he can earn up to the $50 million per year that his representation shockingly had reportedly requested from Indianapolis—meaning it pays to be an average to good NFL starting quarterback these days.
When comparing it to the 3-year, $100.5 million deal that Sam Darnold got last year, who had a better line entering free agency last year from the Minnesota Vikings (with 35 passing touchdowns to 12 interceptions during 17 starts in 2024, compared to Jones’ 19 passing touchdown to 8 interceptions in 14 starts during 2025), the Colts are seemingly paying Jones in 2 years, what he should’ve ideally made in 3 years.
For Jones, in addition to getting a high dollar amount, he secures a 2nd-year, if he can’t regain his prior Pro Bowl caliber form with Indianapolis in 2026, after presumably returning less than a full year from a season-ending torn Achilles suffered late in Week 14 of this past campaign.
For the Colts, while this is a major short-term commitment to Jones from a financial standpoint, it provides them an easy exit if Jones can’t return to form, becomes oft-injured, or proves he’s not the guy for the QB1 job anymore. After all, while Jones initial debut in Indianapolis was good, it only spanned roughly 14 starts and again, he’s coming off a significant Achilles injury.
The other positive news is that depending on tacked on void years, the Colts presumably saved some significant cap space by replacing what would’ve otherwise been Jones’ transition tag cap hit ($37.833M) for the 2026 season and agreeing to this new 2-year deal.
