According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, “The Colts appear all-in on keeping Jones long term.”
What started as a one-year, $14 million flyer has exploded into one of the NFL’s most stunning quarterback resurgences, and according to multiple insiders, Indy is gearing up to pay like it.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler didn’t mince words this week: “Jones has a chance to become the biggest earner in the free agency class,” he reported.
The comps Daniel Jones was given were Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, both former top-10 picks who rebounded elsewhere and turned it into three-year deals around $100 million. Fowler went further: “Jones would totally be justified asking for that … with interest.”
The Colts signed Jones to compete with former No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson. They didn’t expect a quarterback controversy.
And they definitely didn’t expect an 8-2 record, the NFL’s best offense, and Jones completing a career-high 69.9% of his throws for 2,659 yards, 15 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and five rushing scores.
The Colts are living in the present, and Jones is the present. That’s why the franchise went all-in at the trade deadline, sending two first-round picks to the Jets for Sauce Gardner. Teams don’t make that move unless they believe they’ve found their quarterback.
So What Does the Bombshell Contract Actually Look Like?
GettyColts QB Daniel Jones
League-wide, major QB extensions are averaging five years, but Jones’ situation is unique. At 28 years old, he fits perfectly into a four-year window that gives Indy flexibility while paying Jones during his prime.
- Ends when he’s 32 (still young enough for another deal)
- Protects the Colts if this season proves to be a peak
- Gives Jones the chance to re-hit the market before he ages out
It’s the perfect middle ground. A big contract on a manageable timeline.
But when it comes to money, the total value is expected to be $200 million ($50 million per season).
It may sound like a lot, but it’s not shocking anymore. It’s just the cost of doing business in a league where mid-tier quarterbacks are earning top-tier money, and where Jones has played well above mid-tier all season.
The Colts enter 2026 with roughly $57.7 million in cap space. A $50 million AAV deal sounds suffocating, but the cap isn’t real in the way fans think.
Indianapolis can (and will) push money into future void years, restructure existing deals, shift signing bonuses, and maneuver the books. Teams that want to keep their quarterback almost always do.
Why the Colts Can’t Afford Not to Pay Him
GettyColts QB Daniel Jones
The Colts didn’t build this roster to wait for Anthony Richardson’s development curve. They built it for right now. And right now belongs to Daniel Jones.
Whether he detonates the market with a postseason run or holds steady at his current pace, the outcome is the same: The Colts are about to pay Daniel Jones like their franchise quarterback.
Whether that’s smart, risky, or both depends on what Jones does next, starting with a massive matchup against the three-time AFC champion Chiefs after the bye.
One thing is clear: Daniel Jones is about to cash in again. And this time, the bombshell is coming from Indianapolis.
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