Sometimes all it takes to unlock a player’s potential is a change of scenery. A combination of a shaky supporting cast, recurring injury woes, and a revolving door of coaches and coordinators kept Daniel Jones from ever truly settling in as QB1 in the Big Apple.
Six seasons in New York, even after signing a disastrous four-year $160 million contract after his miracle 2022 campaign, was not enough to keep the former first-rounder from cementing his status as a true franchise quarterback.
But the 2019 No. 6 pick is taking advantage of the second lease on his NFL life.
Daniel Jones is being predicted to start this season in a different shade of blue
Jones signed a one-year deal with the Colts in March in order to push third-year gunslinger Anthony Richardson for the starting job, and push he has. Reports from minicamp praised Jones’s poise, accuracy, and command of the offense—traits that often seemed elusive during his New York tenure.
Richardson has yet to suit up this summer due to a nagging shoulder issue, which has provided the 28-year-old an extended opportunity to prove himself. And he has impressed to the point where Bleacher Report’s Moe Molton thinks he has a real shot of capturing the starting role.
The 23-year-old Richardson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 Draft, threw 12 interceptions in 11 starts in 2024 and his career completion percentage is just barely above 50%. He’s also missed 20 games in his first two seasons, meaning that the path to playing time is clear for Jones.
With an increased role, the biggest asset the Duke product will have in Indianapolis is a much-improved supporting cast. Shane Steichen is among the NFL’s most under-appreciated head coaches and has worked with great quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts and Phillip Rivers, and the Colts’ offensive line is one of the better units in football.
The Colts weapons should also make Jones’ life easier. Two-time Pro Bowler Jonathan Taylor is there to anchor the run game, while a deep receiving corps features Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Adonai Mitchell, and Josh Downs.
And this doesn’t even account for first-round rookie and former Penn State star Tyler Warren, who became the first-ever Big Ten tight end to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
It’s clear to see. Jones will have more help than he ever did as a Giant, which is why the buzz surrounding him is growing so loud. Despite this buzz, some Colts writers remain unconvinced due to Jones' struggles with downfield accuracy.
Regardless of how you feel about Jones, there’s no denying he’s now in the right environment to finally unlock the talent that made him a top-10 draft pick.
