The Colts’ quarterback situation has suddenly become part of the fire sale.
After Indianapolis moved on from Chris Ballard and started dealing away major pieces like Quentin Nelson and DeForest Buckner, Daniel Jones has emerged as another name to watch. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport reported that multiple teams have already reached out about the veteran quarterback, who signed a two-year extension with the Colts this offseason.
Jones, 29, earned that deal on the back of a strong 2025 season. He helped Indianapolis go 8-5 while posting career bests in completion percentage at 68.0%, yards per attempt at 8.1 and passer rating at 100.2. Even after he tore his Achilles late last season, the Colts still committed $50 million in guaranteed money to him.
Now the picture has changed fast. Indianapolis stumbled out of the gate in 2026, Ballard was dismissed, and the roster teardown has continued. Rumors have also linked wide receiver Josh Downs and even three-time Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor to possible moves.
For Jones, the only team specifically reported to have checked in is Baltimore. The Ravens are in a tough spot with Lamar Jackson out at least the next four weeks because of a thumb injury, Tyler “Snoop” Huntley done for the season with a toe injury, and rookie UDFA Joe Fagnano starting in Thursday night’s loss to the Jaguars. Baltimore has since finalized a trade with the Cardinals for Jacoby Brissett, which makes a Jones deal seem highly unlikely.
That leaves the Vikings as the clearest fit if Indianapolis decides to move him.
Minnesota has rolled to a 6-1 start, and the defense has been the engine. Brian Flores’ group has allowed just 13.3 points per game, the fewest in the league, along with the second-fewest yards per game at 271.6.
The Vikings are also second in turnover differential at plus-seven, with eight interceptions and four forced fumbles. Opposing quarterbacks have had a miserable time against them, as Minnesota has held them to a 64.9 combined passer rating, a 56.2% completion rate and 154.9 passing yards per game while racking up 25 sacks.
The offense has not matched that standard.
After signing Kyler Murray this offseason and watching him win the starting job, Minnesota traded 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to the Giants in late September.
That still hasn’t solved the issues. Entering Week 9, the Vikings rank fourth-worst in yards per game at 279.4 and have topped 20 points only twice all season.
Murray has thrown five touchdowns against three interceptions, hasn’t run for a score, and is now dealing with a hamstring injury that will keep him out Monday night against the Bills.
Jones also brings a built-in connection to Minnesota. He spent the back half of the 2024 season on the Vikings’ practice squad after being released by the Giants, and he pointed to that stretch as a major influence on his growth.
“I always thought I worked really hard…” Jones said in an appearance on the Fitz and Whit podcast late last year. “But going to Minnesota, I saw how Sam [Darnold] prepared.
I saw how Kevin [O’Connell] prepared those guys, Josh McCown, Grant Udinski, that crew, and how detailed they were, day-in-and-day-out on every little bit of the plan. … That made a big impression on me.”
Minnesota already has the kind of supporting cast that makes the idea easy to understand. Justin Jefferson is there.
T.J. Hockenson is there.
The defense is already playing at a high level. What the Vikings still need is a quarterback who can run O’Connell’s system cleanly and bring more stability to the position.
If the Colts are serious about moving Jones, the fit with Minnesota feels hard to ignore. The Vikings would get a quarterback who knows the system and showed last season he can produce at a high level. Jones, in turn, would go from a Colts team clearly headed in a different direction to one with real Super Bowl hopes.
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