If the Indianapolis Colts plan to bring Daniel Jones back under center in 2026, the price tag might be steep-but not unexpected.
According to a recent projection, Jones is poised to be the highest-paid quarterback on the free agent market this offseason. The forecast?
A four-year deal worth $174.39 million, averaging $43.59 million annually. That would slot him in as the 16th highest-paid quarterback in the league for the 2026 season.
Now, let’s address the obvious: Jones is coming off a torn Achilles. That kind of injury can cloud a quarterback's future, especially when mobility and pocket movement are key parts of their game.
But there’s precedent here. Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed just months after suffering the same injury in 2024.
Cousins was 35 at the time. Jones will be 29 heading into next season.
Age and rehab trajectory are on his side.
The Colts don’t appear to be playing coy here. Both the team and Jones have made it clear they want to keep the partnership going.
And GM Chris Ballard has already gone on record saying he’s “confident” in Jones’ ability to recover and return to form. That’s not lip service.
It’s a signal that the Colts are preparing to invest in Jones as their guy moving forward.
And let’s not forget how strong this team looked before the injury bug hit. The Colts were 8-2 and rolling offensively when Jones went down.
Even while battling a lower leg injury earlier in the season, he helped guide one of the league’s most efficient and balanced attacks. That kind of early-season success wasn’t a fluke-it was the product of a system firing on all cylinders with Jones at the helm.
The Colts believe that version of their offense can return in 2026. And if Jones can bounce back physically, there’s every reason to think he can lead them there again.
The big question now isn’t whether Jones will return-it’s what the final contract numbers will look like. But if the projection holds, it’s clear the Colts are ready to pay for stability at quarterback. And if Jones can deliver the way he did before the injury, that $174 million could end up looking like money well spent.