The Indianapolis Colts re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones to a two-year, $88 million deal is receiving mixed grades from NFL analysts.
Although the transition tag that was placed on Jones was an added wrinkle to these contract negotiations, the Colts‘ re-signing Jones was always the likely outcome.
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The red-hot start under Jones and the success that the Colts had through the first half of last season is something that the organization believes can be replicated in 2026. So re-signing Jones has been a priority all offseason.
There are always going to be varying levels of risk when signing a player to a big contract, and those risks are potentially heightened with Jones coming off an Achilles injury. However, the Colts are confident in his ability to bounce back, and one NFL insider provided a promising update recently on Jones’ recovery timeline.
Ultimately, how Jones plays and any team success the Colts have will determine the quality of this deal. But for now, this deal feels like a win-win. Jones gets a good-sized deal with guarantees, the Colts retain the quarterback they wanted all along, and while they are clearly committed to Jones in the short-term, this being only a two-year deal does give Indianapolis future flexibility.
But do NFL analysts agree with that sentiment? Let’s find out.
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NFL experts grade Colts re-signing Daniel Jones
ESPN: B
What they had to say: “this is a middle ground that works for all parties. Jones gets a little more money locked in, and the Colts will have a quarterback at a reasonable price for two seasons if he can recover from his Achilles injury and get back to his 2025 level of play.” – Seth Walder
PFF: Below average
What they had to say: “This always seemed like the logical conclusion to Jones’ offseason situation, but it is fair to wonder if there were better options available at a lower cost. As good as the start of the 2025 season looked for both him and the Colts, there were some rough moments. His 3.9% turnover-worthy play rate was higher than his 3.1% big-time throw rate, the latter of which ranked just 31st among NFL quarterbacks in 2025. Still, it was Jones’ best mark of the past five seasons.”
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USA Today: B+
What they had to say: “If Jones shines, he’ll make somewhere between $45 million and $50 million in annual salary, which wouldn’t crack the top 10 among QBs. If not, the Colts can clean house and rebuild without too damaging a dead cap hit in 2027. From a financial standpoint, it makes sense for both sides.” – Christian D’Andrea
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL free agency: Experts grade Colts re-signing QB Daniel Jones