The sell-off in Indianapolis could indeed extend to the man who was supposed to become the franchise’s quarterback there.
According to ESPNFL, the Colts entered into commercial negotiations this week regarding Daniel Jones, speaking to “multiple teams.”
The report’s precise language identifies only one team as actually talking to the Colts. According to the article, the Ravens “were a team tasked with monitoring Jones.” The Ravens finally reached a deal with the Cardinals for quarterback Jacoby Brissett, whose plunge from No. 1 to No. 3 on the depth chart made it clear to the rest of the league that he was available.
The only other team mentioned by name is the Vikings, and the report only states “(s)peculation” involving Minnesota. (We have I “speculated” about it since the day after Sunday’s loss to the Vikings in Detroit.)
A previous report from ESPNFL on a potential trade for running back Jonathan Taylor ultimately listed five teams as talking to the Colts (Giants, Seahawks, Broncos, Packers, Vikings). The fact that other teams haven’t been mentioned regarding Jones suggests that, frankly, there may not be any other teams.
Really, what current competitor would want him? The Vikings are the only potential playoff team that checks the box as possibly needing a starter right now. And only the Vikings and Giants are contenders Jones has direct experience with. (The Giants wouldn’t want a Jones reunion, and Jones sure wouldn’t want one either.)
This could obviously change this weekend. An injury to a starter could change the dynamic, prompting another contender to pick up the phone and press for Jones. The most memorable example came 15 years ago, when a broken collarbone for Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell prompted a quick deal for Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, who had decided he didn’t want to play for the team that drafted him — and had yet to report.
Three years ago, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins blew an Achilles tendon two days before the deadline, forcing the Vikings to rush at the deadline to complete a deal with the Cardinals for quarterback Josh Dobbs.
Absent a multi-week injury to a starting quarterback against a contender who doesn’t believe his replacement can hold down the fort, the Vikings might be the only team that wants Jones at the deadline.
Daniel Jones’ preferences also become a factor. If (as we firmly believe) he’s not happy that the Colts folded the tents on trade guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner after a 2-5 start that included an overtime loss to the Chiefs and a head-to-head battle with the then-undefeated Vikings, Jones would clearly benefit from turning to a contender.
The Vikings wanted to keep Jones after the 2024 season. He chose to sign with the Colts in part because he saw a more realistic path to winning the job over 2023 first-rounder Anthony Richardson from Indianapolis rather than 2024 first-rounder JJ McCarthy from Minneapolis. If he was told that a return to Minnesota would mean being installed immediately as QB1, he would surely prefer that to a lost season with the Colts.
Andd Jones has power over this process. Beyond the basic reality that no team wants a starting quarterback who doesn’t want to play for them, the 2027 roster bonus and base salary that become fully guaranteed in March ($10.51 million) are currently guaranteed in case of injury. The ESPNFL article mentions that Jones could waive the damage guarantee in order to expedite a deal.
The flip side (Jones refusing to waive the injury guarantee) means Jones could block a trade, if avoiding a potential eight-figure guarantee for 2027 is a deciding factor for his potential employer.
Our hypothesis? Right now, only the Vikings are interested in Jones. And a trade for Jones becomes a very viable possibility if the Vikings lose to the Bills on Monday with Carson Wentz at quarterback.
Given the possibility of another team emerging as a contender to get Jones, it’s also possible that the Vikings have already decided to trade for Jones after Monday night’s game — win or lose — and that both teams have agreed to keep that under wraps until after Week 9.
Either way, if the oft-injured Jones plays Sunday against the Cowboys and gets hurt, it would kill any chance of trading him. It is therefore important to watch Sunday’s match carefully. If the Colts pull a quick catch on Jones, it could mean he’s already gone.
Gn sports
