Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones tore his Achilles against the Jacksonville Jaguars, bringing his fantastic out-of-nowhere season to a premature end. While this injury is obviously horrible for Jones and the 2025 Colts, the implications of this injury will carry on into the 2026 offseason. Jones is a free agent, and the Colts must figure out what to do with the former first-round pick.
If Daniel Jones hadn’t suffered his injury, this would be an easy decision for the Colts. While he wasn’t an MVP-caliber passer by any means, Jones was playing his best football under head coach Shane Steichen and likely would have earned a sizable extension. He wouldn’t have reset the quarterback market, but he would’ve earned franchise quarterback money. Now, however, Jones carries a lot of uncertainty heading into the upcoming season. Given his injury status, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes the team will likely use the franchise tag.
“The Colts could franchise tag Jones in 2026 to see how the rehab goes, but that won’t be cheap,” Breer writes. “Last year, the franchise tag number was $40.241 million. Next year, it projects to be around $46 million.”
Breer: Colts Could Use Franchise Tag on Daniel Jones
Quite frankly, there isn’t a good answer for what the Colts should do with Daniel Jones. Using the franchise tag means no long-term investment, which is good if Jones can’t recapture his previous form, but it could be troublesome if he picks up where he left off. If he plays well next year, he could leave for greener pastures or drive his price even higher.
On the other hand, if the Colts don’t use the franchise tag, they could lose him to another organization. While Jones carries plenty of risk, he proved he can play like a franchise quarterback in the right environment. The Minnesota Vikings had Jones on their practice squad for a portion of the 2024 season, and they’d probably love to bring him back if J.J. McCarthy doesn’t improve.
Then there’s the nature of the Achilles injury itself. Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers suffered the same injury in 2023, and neither player ever returned to their previous form. With that said, Cousins and Rodgers were 35 and 40, respectively, when they suffered those injuries, while Jones is just 28. In theory, he should have more in his tank and should have a higher chance of returning to form.
Ultimately, any decision the Colts make with Daniel Jones carries a lot of risk. The franchise tag makes the most sense for the time being, but that could change as the offseason progresses.
Main Photo: Corey Perrine – Imagn Images
