Reporter Predicts $25 Million Raise For Colts Backup Quarterback

Daniel Jones of the New York Giants leaves the field after an injury

The Indianapolis Colts are one of the very few teams in the NFL who have a legitimate quarterback battle on their hands. The team’s fourth overall selection in 2022, Anthony Richardson, is set to be the starting quarterback over this years free agent signing, Daniel Jones.

However, reporter Henry McKenna of Fox Sports doesn’t see it unfolding that way.

“By putting Jones on this list, I’ve baked in my prediction about how his season is going to go with Indianapolis,” McKenna writes. “I think the Colts are going to get nervous about Anthony Richardson’s lack of development, largely because the leadership team is on the hot seat. So when Richardson struggles, Indy will use those issues to justify turning the position over to a more stable presence: Jones.”

The list in question is six quarterbacks who are going to be in serious contract negotiations following the 2025 season. McKenna predicts that after taking over the team, Jones might reposition himself as a middle of the pack quarterback with a $40 million price tag.

“He’ll probably start 12 to 15 games. And during that time, he will likely post numbers worthy of the Colts considering him for QB1 on a short-term deal, maybe two years,” McKenna hypothesizes. “But then what the heck do you pay him? How good would he have to be to make Baker Mayfield money? Or Geno Smith money?

I think there’s a real shot Jones could be angling for $40 million annually at this time next year. Would the Colts really pay him that?”

Why Daniel Jones Can’t Really Become A $40 Million QB… Again

The quarterback market is the wild west. If you have a proven ability to win, you become a very wealthy man. Daniel Jones has already tricked one team into giving him a 46 million dollar deal, that has to factor into another team’s decision, right?

The deal Jones signed in March of 2023 was a four year, 160 million dollar contract from the New York Giants. The year after signing, Jones had six interceptions in six games, throwing only a pair of touchdowns, before tearing his ACL and missing the remainder of the season.

Upon his return, Jones appeared in just ten games before getting cut after a Week 10 loss to the the Carolina Panthers in the NFL’s Munich game. The contract extension turned out to be a disastrous decision that lead to the team not resigning the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Saquon Barkley, and paying $92 million worth of guarantees to a player who was unable to deliver.

What DJ Could Realistically Receive

I do agree with McKenna that Daniel Jones will be under center in Week 18, and I hope I’m wrong. But if that happens, Jones will be in for a raise.

For this scenario, I look to the New York Jets. The Jets recently signed Justin Fields. Field was a top ten draft pick who was given a few chances to start for the team that drafted him before getting signed as a backup and becoming a starter due to injury. Sounds familiar right.

Now Fields is operating on a two-year, $40 million contract with a chance to prove he’s worth more. This is the exact blue print I see Jones following. If he does end up winning the job and piecing together a decent season, I think $20 million a year is a fair deal for a quarterback who’s already burned a franchise once.