Former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones.
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Former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was expected to land back with the Colts, but one other team is being mentioned.
Daniel Jones and the New York Giants parted ways in November 2024 on seemingly good terms, and since then, he’s held down the quarterback position with the Minnesota Vikings and Indianapolis Colts.
Jones is largely expected to be back with the Colts for the 2026-27 season, but never say never, and the door is open for him to land with a surprising team. On Tuesday, March 3, before the free agency period, the Indianapolis Colts placed a rarely used transition tag on the quarterback. This is both good and bad news for Jones, regarding whether he stays.
“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,” Stephen Holder of ESPN states of the deal. Holder adds, “Jones does not sign a competing offer sheet, he would earn a one-year guaranteed salary of $37.833 million.”
So, Jones does technically have the chance to land with another team, and one NFL analyst is predicting he’s back with a familiar squad.
Former New York Giants Quarterback Daniel Jones Linked to Familiar Team
The 2026 free agency period starts on Wednesday, March 11. So, that’s when Jones could make his move.
Jones had a solid season with the Colts, and there’s really no reason for either party to want out of this relationship. For the 2025-26 NFL season, Jones started in 13 games before getting hit with a season-ending Achilles injury. He notched 3,101 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, according to NFL research, with a 68 percentage completion percentage. In his first 10 weeks as quarterback, Jones led the Colts to an 8-2 record and led the NFL in passing yards.
But, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes that the tag on Jones means other teams still have the hope of getting him and could still make him an offer. He specifically mentions the Minnesota Vikings.
Daniel Jones Contract: He Could End Up With a Different Team Than the Colts
So, the Minnesota Vikings could make Jones an offer, and then, the Colts would have to match it to keep him. If the Colts don’t, he could go back to his former team. The reason Jones brought up the Vikings is because they haven’t had as much success with their franchise quarterback, J.J. McCarthy as hoped and are expected to be looking around.
“The Colts locked in Daniel Jones with the transition tag Tuesday, and as I wrote earlier this week that does not preclude a team like the Vikings to pursue him. But if the Vikings can’t clear the cap space — and because the Colts hold first-refusal rights for Jones — the name circulating the strongest around Minnesota is quarterback Kyler Murray,” Jones reported on Wednesday, March 4.
So, if it’s not Jones, it may be Murray to Minnesota. Either way, moves will have to be made soon between Jones and any interested NFL team.
It’s worth noting that 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 stated.