For the first time since 1992, a transition tag has been used on a quarterback.
The Indianapolis Colts have used the tag on Daniel Jones, the team announced on Tuesday.
The transition tag is a one-year tender that gives the team that uses it the right to match any offer from another team. It pays either the average of the top-10 salaries at the position or 120 per cent of the player’s salary the previous year, whichever of the two is larger. Should a team pass on the opportunity to match an offer sheet, no compensation is granted.
The tag for Jones is worth $37.833 million. He spent 2025 on a one-year, $14 million deal.
A native of Charlotte, Jones was a revelation for the Colts in 2025 prior to rupturing his Achilles in a Dec. 7 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 13 games last season, Jones threw for 3,101 yards on 261-for-384 passing with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He added another 164 yards and five TDs on the ground.
Originally taken with the sixth overall pick of the 2019 season out of Duke, Jones spent the first six seasons of his career with the New York Giants. Ahead of the 2023 season, Jones signed a four-year, $160 million extension. Just 18 months into the deal, Jones was granted his release after being benched in favour of Tommy DeVito. After his release, Jones joined the Minnesota Vikings practice roster with whom he finished the 2024 season.
The transition tag does not preclude the Colts from signing Jones to a longer term deal ahead of the beginning of the NFL’s legal tampering period on Mar. 9.
The transition tag on a QB was last used 34 years ago by the Atlanta Falcons on Jeff George.