Stampede Blue
The Colts were presented with a challenging decision in regards to Daniel Jones’ contract in 2026.
On the surface signing him back was a no-brainer. He led the Colts to one of the most prolific offensive starts we’ve seen in quite some time. He commanded the huddle and was finally someone Shane Steichen felt like he could trust.
More importantly the alternatives to having someone else were scarce.
*Were you going to go back to Anthony Richardson, the QB the staff had essentially given up on? No.
Were you going to insert yourself in the Kyler Murray or Kirk Cousins sweepstakes, and ride the QB carousel yet again? No.
Were you going to draft a QB without a first round pick with plenty of other needs on the roster? No.*
So Daniel Jones had leverage in the situation.
But there also is an elephant in the room.
Daniel Jones has unfortunately struggled to remain healthy… and just tore his achilles which ended eventually the Colts’ season as well. So there was obviously a lot to think through.
The Colts eventually landed on a two year deal that I think was fair for all involved.
To boil it down gives the Colts the length they desired with the compensation that Jones’ desired.
So what now? What can we expect?
It goes without saying this is a prove-it year for Daniel Jones. Not that he hasn’t proved he can be successful with the Colts, he’s already proven that. Instead that he can prove that the beginning of the 2025 season wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
This play from Daniel Jones first start with the Colts always stands out to me because it shows something the Colts have been lacking at the position for a long time.. true command of the huddle.
Watch him ID the pressure with a hard count and then flip the protection while getting Down on a out breaking hot route to move the sticks.
And it wasn’t just one play either.
Daniel Jones worst enemy in New York was undoubtedly pressure. Teams blitzed him like crazy for that reason. That was until he developed real trust.
Trust with his offensive line to block it, trust with his wide receivers to punish it, and trust with his play caller to give him the answers for it.
Anthony Weaver and Vance Joseph (the Colts first two opponents to start the year) blitzed Jones like crazy.. and they paid the price.
It was surgical, methodical, and downright frustrating for defenses that thought they could roll out the blueprint that had been used ever since Daniel Jones got into the league.
But it wasn’t until Jeff Ulbirch threw the kitchen sink at the Colts in Germany that the trend unraveled a bit. Jones inability to move in the pocket made it harder to trust the things he was so used to trusting.. after all he was playing through injury trying to protect himself on every drop back.
So the...
