The Indianapolis Colts are heading into a pivotal offseason, and the biggest question on the table is what to do with quarterback Daniel Jones. After a solid showing in 2025, Jones is now a free agent, and the Colts are staring down a decision that could shape the future of the franchise.
Do they lock him up long-term? Use the franchise tag?
Or risk letting him walk?
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Colts are already working toward a new deal with Jones-an indication that they’re trying to get ahead of what could quickly become a messy situation. And while that might sound like breaking news, it really just confirms what’s been clear for a while: Indianapolis wants Jones back. General Manager Chris Ballard made that much obvious in his end-of-season press conference.
But here’s the real issue: the Colts may have waited too long to get serious about a long-term extension.
Jones played some of his best football in the first half of the 2025 season. That would’ve been the perfect window for Indy to strike a deal-while his value was still climbing and before other teams could even think about making a pitch.
Instead, they held off. That’s in line with Ballard’s typically cautious approach to contracts, but in this case, patience might end up being costly.
If the Colts can’t agree to terms with Jones and decide not to use the franchise tag, they’ll be left with a quarterback room that raises more questions than answers. Anthony Richardson, once a first-round pick, hasn’t lived up to his draft status. Riley Leonard, the team’s 2025 selection, didn’t inspire much confidence either-he was on the roster, but the coaching staff never really handed him the keys.
Adding to the complexity, the Colts don’t have a first-round pick in the upcoming draft. They traded away their next two first-rounders in a midseason move to acquire cornerback Sauce Gardner from the Jets. That deal may pay off on the defensive side, but it leaves them without the draft capital to go get a top-tier quarterback prospect in 2026.
Free agency doesn’t offer a clear solution either. The idea of trading for someone like Tua Tagovailoa or Kirk Cousins has been floated, but both come with significant concerns.
Tua’s injury history is well documented, and while Cousins is still capable, he’s 37. That route would feel all too familiar for Colts fans who remember the short-lived stints of Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan-not exactly a recipe for long-term stability.
Which brings us back to Jones.
He’s not perfect, but he showed enough in 2025 to warrant a real investment-especially considering the alternatives. The Colts had a golden opportunity to lock him up earlier, and now they’re playing catch-up. That’s a risky game in today’s NFL, where quarterback continuity is everything.
If Jones walks, the Colts will be left scrambling for answers at the most important position on the field. And while there’s still time to get something done, the clock is ticking. The longer this drags out, the more leverage Jones has-and the more pressure lands on Ballard to clean up a situation that could’ve been avoided.