Daniel Jones.
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Daniel Jones contract: The quarterback cut ties with the New York Giants in November 2024. Here's the latest on his status with the Colts.
Daniel Jones cut ties with the New York Giants in November 2024 with a high-profile release, and from there, he hopped to the Minnesota Vikings and, most recently, the Indianapolis Colts.
The 2026 free agency period starts on Wednesday, March 11, and ahead of that window opening up, Jones received some major career news. The development comes after Jones had a strong season with the Colts, too.
For the 2025-26 NFL season, Jones started in 13 games before getting hit with a season-ending Achilles injury. He clocked 3,101 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, according to NFL research, with a 68 percentage completion percentage. Plus, in his first 10 weeks, Jones led the Colts to an 8-2 record and led the NFL in passing yards.
Daniel Jones Contract Status: Former New York Giants Quarterback Gets Roster News
On Tuesday, March 3, just ahead of the free agency period, the Indianapolis Colts the first step in what appears to be making sure the soon-to-be free agent quarterback doesn’t go anywhere.
“The tag guarantees the Colts the right of first refusal for Jones, preserving the right to match any competing offer sheet he might sign with an interested club,” according to a Tuesday, March 3, report from Stephen Holder of ESPN. The move came before Tuesday’s deadline to assess franchise or transition tags on players who are set to go to free agency next week.
Holder adds, “Jones does not sign a competing offer sheet, he would earn a one-year guaranteed salary of $37.833 million.”
Last week during NFL Combine, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said that the franchise and Jones were in contract talks. “When both sides are driven to get it done, it usually works out in the right way,” he said.
So, it appears the Colts would like to keep Jones around. Having a solid, veteran quarterback is rare right now in the NFL, so he may field interest from other teams, but this appears to be heading to a done deal.
Daniel Jones Move Was a Rare One By the Indianapolis Colts
It’s rare when a franchise makes a move such as this one with Jones. According to research from the NFL, it’s been two decades.
“It’s a rare instance as the transition tag isn’t often used and hasn’t been applied to a quarterback since Jeff George was given it in 1996 by the Atlanta Falcons,” Grant Gordon of the NFL’s official website states in a Tuesday, March 3 feature. “George eventually signed a one-year, $3.6 million deal after holding out into training camp.”
He adds that “Indianapolis and Jones will continue to work toward a long-term deal, per NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. The two sides have until July 15 to work out a long-term extension.”
However, in a piece from Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, he notes that “one league source believes the Colts are taking a calculated risk if they use the transition tag on Jones. The former Giants quarterback wouldn’t sign an offer sheet from just anywhere — think the Jets — and teams like the Cardinals and Dolphins may not have the money to get a deal done with Jones. On top of all that, teams may be wary of looking to lock up a quarterback they don’t know coming off a major injury.”