Is Daniel Jones staying with the Colts? For now, yes, but not with total certainty. Indianapolis placed the transition tag on Jones last week, which gives the Colts the right to match any offer sheet he signs with another team. Colts.com explained that Jones can still negotiate with other clubs during free agency, but Indianapolis would have five days to match an outside offer and keep him.
That is why this matters now. Jones is not a normal unrestricted free agent, and he is not fully locked in either. The transition tag gives the Colts leverage while preserving Jones’ ability to test the market, which makes this one of the more unusual quarterback situations of free-agency week. Spotrac lists the tag as a one-year, $37.833 million deal for 2026.
Daniel Jones Given Transition Tag by Colts
The headline detail is real: the Colts did give Daniel Jones the transition tag. Colts.com laid out the mechanics clearly, and Reuters also referenced the move in its March 9 report on Indianapolis re-signing Alec Pierce, noting that the tag secures Jones on a potential one-year, $37.8 million deal unless the Colts work out a longer contract or choose not to match another offer.
That makes the situation quite nuanced beyong a “yes” or “no.” Jones is still tied to Indianapolis, and the Colts clearly want to retain control of his market. But because the transition tag does not block him from negotiating elsewhere, staying with the Colts is still something that has to play out over the next few days. Colts general manager Chris Ballard previously said he was hopeful the team could get a long-term deal done before free agency.
Daniel Jones Contract
Jones’ current tag amount is $37.833 million for 2026, according to Spotrac. That number is significant because it sets the one-year cost of keeping him while also signaling how serious Indianapolis is about preventing him from simply walking away for nothing.
There is also reporting that Jones and the Colts discussed a bigger deal. The New York Post reported Monday that Jones turned down an offer believed to be around three years and $100.5 million, with Jones and his camp viewing his value as higher. That is only one report, but it helps explain why the tag became the fallback option.
Daniel Jones Stats, Age, PFF
Jones is 28, and Colts.com’s tag explainer identified him as a 28-year-old quarterback entering this offseason. PFF lists his 2025 overall grade at 71.7, with a 68.7 passing grade and 73.7 rushing grade. Another PFF breakdown said Jones opened 2025 with an 80.3 grade over his first eight starts before fading late in the season.
That split is the real story. Early in the year, Jones looked like a strong fit in Shane Steichen’s offense. Late in the year, the production cooled, which is part of why his market has been harder to pin down.
Daniel Jones Injury
Jones’ injury is a major reason this process got complicated. Multiple reports say he suffered a torn Achilles in early December, and local Indianapolis coverage noted that injury likely cost him money heading into free agency.
That is the biggest “why today” angle beyond the tag itself. Without the Achilles injury, Jones may have had a clearer path to a bigger long-term deal. Instead, the Colts used the transition tag to keep control while the market weighs talent, timing and recovery.
What Happens Next?
Now the question is whether Jones signs an offer sheet elsewhere, and whether the Colts match it. At this point, Indianapolis has made one thing clear: it wants to keep the option of Daniel Jones staying with the Colts very much alive.
Is Daniel Jones Staying with the Colts? Latest Free Agency News