Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts had one of the biggest downfalls in recent times during the 2025 NFL season.

Unfortunately, Jones’ season was derailed due to an Achilles injury. He was ruled out for the remainder of the season after appearing in just 13 games.

While Jones has a long recovery road ahead of him, the veteran quarterback potentially played himself into another major deal. Despite leaving the New York Giants on a low note in 2024, Jones revived his NFL reputation with the Colts by winning the starting quarterback position and thriving.

Now, he’s going to hit the free agency market in 2026 and is potentially looking at a big payday.

Daniel Jones Contract Projection

As Bleacher Report identified the top free agents at each position and predicted the best fit for those players, Jones was regarded as the No. 1 quarterback, who would fit best with the Colts once again.

What could his next deal look like? A contract projection suggests Jones could land a three-year deal, worth $99 million.

When you compare it to Jones’ biggest payday with the Giants, $99 million is relatively small. Back in 2023, Jones inked a four-year deal with the Giants, worth $160 million. At the time, the Giants were convinced he was one of the league’s top passers, and it made sense for them to lock in their homegrown quarterback, who flashed major potential right after the Eli Manning era.

Looking in the rearview, it didn’t work out with the Giants. Jones was benched after 10 games in 2024 and was released soon after. The veteran quarterback could take some fault, but it was apparent the Giants had issues across the board. Not many quarterbacks would find success in that situation.

During his first season with the Colts, Jones completed 68 percent of his passes, which marked a career high. He totaled 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The Colts posted an 8-5 record before he went down.

The recovery timeline for Jones isn’t totally clear, but his 2026 availability doesn’t seem to be in danger. As long as he stays on a positive path, Jones could see some generous offers in free agency next month. Expect the Colts to be at the front of the bidding line.

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