Stampede Blue
“I think he’s certainly a talented young player and I think the competition aspect of it brings out the best in everybody,” Jones said. “I think we are both interested in helping this team win games and whatever we can do to help that happen.”
Once the Indianapolis Colts open training camp at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., the race between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, both aiming to claim the vacant starting quarterback position, will unfold throughout summer headlines.
Jones signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Colts. potentially worth up to $17.7 million with incentives based on playing time. Jones had other suitors, but acknowledged he viewed Indianapolis as the best fit and chance to compete. There’s only 32 starting NFL QB jobs and the 27-year-old believes he can outperform Richardson and regain another shot to earn his living.
“It’s an opportunity to come in and compete,” Jones told reporters at his introductory press conference. “I’m looking forward to that. I think I’ve had a lot of fun, a lot of respect for Anthony (Richardson), watching him. I think he’s certainly a talented young player and I think the competition aspect of it brings out the best in everybody. I think we are both interested in helping this team win games and whatever we can do to help that happen.”
Jones spent most of his first six seasons with the New York Giants, who swung for the fences on a project with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He’s thrown 70 career passing touchdowns and rushed for an additional 15 scores against 73 turnover. Jones holds a 24-44-1 record as a starter and was released in November by the Giants, who lost 13 of his last 16 starts. He signed with the Vikings at the end of the season and dressed as the emergency third QB for the NFC Wild Card game, but did not play in any games.
Jones had a chance to return to Minnesota, but saw a temporary fit with the Vikings opposed to the best long-term opportunity in Indianapolis. If Jones is a candidate to become Indy’s future solution, he has the experience to command an offense that disguises its playbook with play action concepts. He’s a capable runner and can thrive in Steichen’s run-pass-option scheme.
Last season, 32% of Richardson’s drop backs were in play action, which were third-most among NFL starters behind Lions Jared Goff (37%) and Chargers’ Justin Herbert (33.4%). It would be delusional to suggest Jones won’t see the field in 2025, but until Jones is sporting a red practice jersey and playing first-team reps, the stampede blue community won’t be convinced he was chosen to lead the Colts into the 2025 NFL season.
Colts GM Chris Ballard publicly stated there would be an “open competition” for starting QB inside the Indiana Convention Center at the NFL Scouting Combine. In eight seasons, Ballard has signed six different quarterbacks who started at least one game, traded for...
