After having a lot to cheer for in the 8 weeks of the 2025-26 season for the Indianapolis Colts. Then there was almost none after that.
Indy started the season off hot and had itself in contention to become one of the best teams in the league.
Rookie Tyler Warren was looking like one of the best selections of the 2025 NFL Draft, Jonathan Taylor was on track to win the Offensive Player of the Year (also earning some MVP shouts) and Daniel Jones was having a revival season in Indy.
Indy was close to making their first playoff trip since the 2020 season, but losing 7 games to close the season ended their hopes.
One of the biggest questions about the future of the Colts is the QB spot, but one NFL writer believes it could be different.
NFL Writer Urges To Steer Clear Of Colts QB
GettyA member of the Colts offense was named to beware of in free agency
Something Indianapolis Colts fans were able to cheer on at the beginning of the season was Daniel Jones. After years of struggling to find a franchise quarterback or even a long-term option at quarterback, Jones was showing that he was the answer for the Colts.
The former New York Giant (and Minnesota Viking) was on track to have his best career season in all major metrics under head coach Shane Steichen, who is the offensive playcaller for the team.
Jones threw for 3,101 passing yards and 19 pass touchdowns, rushing for 164 yards and getting 5 scores with his legs, while being hindered by a fractured leg, which impeded his stats in the latter half of his season with the Colts.
Despite being on track to have his best season yet, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay mentioned that teams should steer clear of the quarterback in free agency.
“Daniel Jones earned a much-needed new beginning with the Indianapolis Colts this past season. While he got off to a fast start and even looked like a potential MVP candidate in the early portion of the campaign, things didn’t end too well for the former New York Giants star,” Kay wrote for B/R. “The 28-year-old began to regress rapidly after that point… with Jones struggling to keep his blistering pace from earlier in the season.”
“After playing through a fibula injury that was clearly hindering his mobility, his season came to an end on December 7 when he tore his Achilles. Although there’s hope he’ll be cleared in time for training camp, it remains to be seen if the injury will have long-lasting effects…”
Jones signed a one-year “prove it” deal with the Colts to show that he was still capable of being a starting quarterback in the league. The former Giant beat out third-year Anthony Richardson for the starting spot and was showing glimpses of his true caliber, having Indianapolis atop the AFC early in the season.
Now, coming back from a fractured leg and torn Achilles, his future is in the air.
Retaining Daniel Jones
GettyThe future of Daniel Jones is in question
The biggest question surrounding Daniel Jones is where he will sign next. As mentioned, he was on a one-year deal and there are currently no rumors of the Colts front office being in talks to resign Jones.
It will be a major challenge for Jones to return from two leg injuries suffered in the same season, something Alex Kay notes:
“If the Duke product returns to full strength and gets back to the level he was displaying prior to his injuries this past season, he could be a bargain for one of the many QB-needy clubs around the league.”
Indy has around $33 million in cap space, which would not be enough for Jones following his performance this season.
This will allow other teams to get in contact with Jones and give him a deal he would like, but all that lingers on his legs.
Indianapolis retained Shane Steichen for a fourth year, which would provide some comfort in Jones’ decision-making for which team he would like to play for, having familiarity with Steichen’s offense.
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