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 turnovers. 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 regular 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 Shane Steichen’s run-pass-option scheme.
Last season, 32% of Richardson’s drop backs were in play action, which was the third-highest percentage 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 three other of Indy’s previous starters, drafted two rookie QBs, then inked Jones this free agency period. It’s safe to say he’s been no stranger to bringing in another signal caller to have a shot to claim the reigns.
Richardson can view this declaration as the window closing on his tenure with the franchise that took a chance on him or a revelation to make it clear whose franchise it is. It will begin as more of a challenge than a competition for Indianapolis’ fourth overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft. The result of this battle may reveal if the Colts feel some buyer’s remorse with selecting Richardson to become the next franchise QB at 21-years-old.
Across his first two seasons, Richardson has thrown eight touchdowns and rushed for 10 additional scores against 17 turnovers in 17 games. The biggest concern is inaccuracy and durability as Richardson posted the worst completion percentage (47.7%) and the worst passer rating (61.6) among all qualified NFL QBs last season. The 22-year-old has missed 17 of a possible 34 games while recovering from injuries.
Will Jones become the eighth different Week 1 starter for the Colts since 2015? Perhaps the one-year deal is insurance, but once Jones steps inside the building, he plans to showcase how he can help the Colts end a four-year playoff drought in 2025.
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