Daniel Jones Indianapolis Colts
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Daniel Jones #17 of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts started off the 2025 NFL season as one of the hottest teams in the league, with veteran quarterback Daniel Jones having a career resurgence as a starting quarterback. Jones was so impressive in the first half of the 2025 campaign that he was a legitimate NFL MVP candidate along with teammate and star running back Jonathan Taylor.
Unfortunately, it all came crashing down the second Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, which not only cast doubt on the veteran quarterback’s future in Indianapolis but also led the team to spiral out of control and finish the season without clinching a playoff spot in the AFC.
Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones Indianapolis Colts
GettyDaniel Jones #17 of the Indianapolis Colts
Despite Jones currently recovering from surgery on his torn Achilles and his status for next season being up in the air because of the long recovery process, all indications point to Colts’ brass wanting to retain the former first-round draft pick beyond the 2025 NFL season.
On Tuesday, the Colts made their final decision on Jones’ immediate future with the team, placing a transition tag on him, according toTom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Tom Pelissero
The Colts are placing the transition tag on QB Daniel Jones, sources say.
The sides have been in negotiations on a multiyear contract and those talks will continue. The one-year transition tender is worth $37.833 million and gives Indianapolis the right to match any offer sheet.
“The sides have been in negotiations on a multiyear contract and those talks will continue,” Pelissero wrote. “The one-year transition tender is worth $37.833 million and gives Indianapolis the right to match any offer sheet.”
Jones was playing arguably the best football of his career before going down with the season-ending injury. He played in 13 games, throwing for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while also making an impact in the ground game, rushing for 164 yards and five touchdowns.
As a result of this transition tag, Jones’ future with the Colts is secured for the time being, and it seems highly likely he’ll eventually sign a long-term deal with the team.
Alec Pierce
Alec Pierce Daniel Jones Indianapolis Colts
GettyAlec Pierce #14 of the Indianapolis Colts
With Jones’ future secured, the attention turns to star wide receiver Alec Pierce, who is getting a lot of interest around the league as one of the top wideouts available during the NFL offseason.
Much like Jones, the Colts’ brass want to keep Pierce in Indianapolis for the foreseeable future, according to Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports.
I’m told the Colts want to keep both Pierce and quarterback Daniel Jones on the roster moving forward. The thinking is that the team will try to get Jones done before free agency begins, then tag Pierce and attempt to sign him to an extended deal. Putting the franchise tag on Pierce would cost an estimated $28 million this season, one million more than the average annual amount he was expected to sign for that I reported earlier this week.
Pierce was a direct beneficiary of Jones having a solid season before going down with the Achilles injury, as he became one of the team’s top targets downfield.
The 25-year-old wide receiver had his best season so far for the Colts in 2025, recording career-high numbers in catches (47) and receiving yards (1,003) to go along with six touchdowns, which is one off his career-high total (7) from 2024.