The Daniel Jones effect is difficult to quantify

[albany ed]

Originally Posted by sherck

I think the best plan for the Colts would be to:

A. Sign Daniel Jones to a team friendly 3-year contract with almost zero signing bonus, a smallish 1st year ($15m), a good sized 2nd year ($35m) and a huge 3rd year ($50m) giving both sides the flexibility to renegoiate as desired. Obviously, the Colts can get out of it cheaply after years 1 or 2 if needed and could also renegoiate the 3rd year into an extension. Jones get the money if he can show that he was not just a one hit wonder.

B. Retain Riley Leonard. I am not sold on him but I would like to see if he can make a 2nd year jump as a backup.

C-1. If the right guy is there, draft a QB in the 2nd or 3rd round of the 2026 draft. Hopefully, someone who you can hope can develop into a starter.
C-2. If the right guy is not there, retain Anthony Richardson and hope that he can actually stay healthy and/or develop.

I like C-1 better than C-2 because I don't think AR is good at football but you have to have someone as QB3.....

Brilliant!

[Oldcolt]

Originally Posted by sherck

I think the best plan for the Colts would be to:

A. Sign Daniel Jones to a team friendly 3-year contract with almost zero signing bonus, a smallish 1st year ($15m), a good sized 2nd year ($35m) and a huge 3rd year ($50m) giving both sides the flexibility to renegoiate as desired. Obviously, the Colts can get out of it cheaply after years 1 or 2 if needed and could also renegoiate the 3rd year into an extension. Jones get the money if he can show that he was not just a one hit wonder.

B. Retain Riley Leonard. I am not sold on him but I would like to see if he can make a 2nd year jump as a backup.

C-1. If the right guy is there, draft a QB in the 2nd or 3rd round of the 2026 draft. Hopefully, someone who you can hope can develop into a starter.
C-2. If the right guy is not there, retain Anthony Richardson and hope that he can actually stay healthy and/or develop.

I like C-1 better than C-2 because I don't think AR is good at football but you have to have someone as QB3.....

While I am not sold on Jones what other choice is there other than break everything up? What really concerns me are the people saying he is going to get 3 years and like 45 million a year. What you are suggesting is very reasonable and if Jones hits it like he did the first 8 games of the season both he and the Colts are set. I have zero faith unfortunately that this is what will happen.

[Puck]

Originally Posted by sherck

I think the best plan for the Colts would be to:

A. Sign Daniel Jones to a team friendly 3-year contract with almost zero signing bonus, a smallish 1st year ($15m), a good sized 2nd year ($35m) and a huge 3rd year ($50m) giving both sides the flexibility to renegoiate as desired. Obviously, the Colts can get out of it cheaply after years 1 or 2 if needed and could also renegoiate the 3rd year into an extension. Jones get the money if he can show that he was not just a one hit wonder.

B. Retain Riley Leonard. I am not sold on him but I would like to see if he can make a 2nd year jump as a backup.

C-1. If the right guy is there, draft a QB in the 2nd or 3rd round of the 2026 draft. Hopefully, someone who you can hope can develop into a starter.
C-2. If the right guy is not there, retain Anthony Richardson and hope that he can actually stay healthy and/or develop.

I like C-1 better than C-2 because I don't think AR is good at football but you have to have someone as QB3.....

Good post.

If this kid is there I hope they take him

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/...iss-QB-OleMiss

Unless he wins his lawsuit and gets one more yr eligibility

[Brylok]

I still don't understand how they're expecting Jones to be ready to play by training camp. Makes no sense at all.

[sherck]

Originally Posted by Brylok

I still don't understand how they're expecting Jones to be ready to play by training camp. Makes no sense at all.

Agreed. I know folks have been pointing to new repair techniques as only being down 9 months instead of a year but that is still not by the beginning of training camp.

Time will tell....

[sherck]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

While I am not sold on Jones what other choice is there other than break everything up?

I do not think there is any other choice, really.

Okay, perhaps you roll dice on Malik Willis instead of Jones but I am not sold on that move at all.

Zach Wilson? Trey Lance? Kenny Pickett? Sam Howell?

Those are the guys under 28 years old that have actually started an NFL game that are in 2026 unrestricted free agency.

There is no better choice that Jones.

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

What really concerns me are the people saying he is going to get 3 years and like 45 million a year. What you are suggesting is very reasonable and if Jones hits it like he did the first 8 games of the season both he and the Colts are set. I have zero faith unfortunately that this is what will happen.

Jones has already made over $100m in salary from the NFL. His financial future is set. He is not married, may not have a girlfriend (reports are mixed that they split up) and no kids as of yet.
I have hopes that he understands both his position and the team's position and that he does not demand top dollar in order to sign back here.

But time will tell.

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

While I am not sold on Jones what other choice is there other than break everything up? What really concerns me are the people saying he is going to get 3 years and like 45 million a year. What you are suggesting is very reasonable and if Jones hits it like he did the first 8 games of the season both he and the Colts are set. I have zero faith unfortunately that this is what will happen.

Yeah, $45M/year seems a bit much, but I would expect him to get at least a Sam Darnold money of 3 year $100M. Maybe less guaranteed money b/c of the injury.

Jones has already made over $100m in salary from the NFL. His financial future is set. He is not married, may not have a girlfriend (reports are mixed that they split up) and no kids as of yet.
I have hopes that he understands both his position and the team's position and that he does not demand top dollar in order to sign back here.

But time will tell.

Would be nice to get a "hometown discount", but I'm guessing he'll want at least what he considers to be market value which could get inflated by other QB needy teams.

[YDFL Commish]

Before injury, I told you guys that his yearly salary would start withe a 4...meaning $40 million or more. Maybe we can get a slight discount on that now, but it will still be around $40 million.

[Oldcolt]

Originally Posted by YDFL Commish

Before injury, I told you guys that his yearly salary would start withe a 4...meaning $40 million or more. Maybe we can get a slight discount on that now, but it will still be around $40 million.

I think you may be correct but I sure as hell hope you aren't. To much money for Jones coming off this injury. Besides all the worries about him actually being ready the Colts should factor in that the dude was injury prone before his achilles and that probably won't be getting better (as far as being injury prone is concerned). They won't

[albany ed]

I don't know. There are teams that need a solid starting QB and there are teams that don't. The teams that need a solid QB need that QB to be opening day ready. I don't see any of these teams dropping 40+ million annually on a QB that:

1. Probably won't be ready for the start of the season
2. IMO has not produced sufficiently enough over his career to be a sure thing
3. May not regain his previous mobility

If there is a team that is willing to give Jones 40+ million a year with guarantees on a large portion of it, I say, bon voyage, I wish you well.

I see 5 teams that are severely in need of an upgrade: Raiders, Jets, Steelers, Saints and Dolphins. The Raiders and Jets both have ample salary cap room to offer Jones a ridiculous contract, they're also dumb enough to do it. Steelers, Saints and Dolphins don't have enough to go all in for Jones.

I think if the Colts don't do anything foolish, Jones will remain here.