Should the Colts franchise tag Daniel Jones at a projected $47 million?

Yahoo Sports host Andrew Siciliano, senior NFL writer Frank Schwab and senior betting analyst Ben Fawkes discuss if it makes sense for the Indianapolis Colts to franchise tag QB Daniel Jones coming off an achilles injury. Check out the full conversation on “Inside Coverage” – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Video Transcript

Do you think Daniel Jones gets tagged in Indianapolis?

He’s coming off an injury.

Keeping in mind the quarterback franchise tag number is, wait for it, $47 million American dollars.

This is a tough one.

I, I mean, I, I assume they will just because you kinda have to, but Daniel Jones also may- might be one of the rare guys that runs to sign that thing.

He’s coming off an Achilles injury.

Does he I, I mean, I- do you really think you’re getting a, a huge long-term deal?

Not at $47 million a year.

So one year, $47 million, you come back healthy, you hit the open market again, you, you hope to have a good season.

I, I think that that’s a pretty good deal for Daniel Jones, whereas the Colts probably don’t want- Like, that’s the other thing about the franchise tag versus signing a long-term deal.

Long-term deals can be structured where you’re not taking on a huge cap hit right away, right?

You, you give a guy a signing bonus that’s prorated out, you’re not taking this massive No, it- if Daniel Jones signs that contract with the Colts, his cap number in 2026 is $47 million.

Nothing you can do about it.

Like, and that’s a big, big cap hit right away for the Colts.

So I don’t know, I don’t know that necessarily they’d be excited if Daniel Jones ran to sign that one-year deal, where Daniel Jones might be pretty happy getting $47 million and, and doing the Kirk Cousins thing and trying to, to just- So then do you not offer- spin this to the point where you can hit the open market?

I know, I think you have to almost.

So like, if they don’t have to do it on Tuesday- What other choice do they have?

Yeah, like, like if you’re Indianapolis, if you’re Chris Ballard, I’d try to go to him and say, “Hey, like, we’re not gonna give you 47 a year in a long-term deal, but maybe can we interest you in 80 over two?

Can we interest you in 70- Right … over two?

Can, can we interest you in something that could lower that number and still let us do business?”

you know, whether it’s for Michael Pittman or whomever, right?

Let Re-sign Alec Pierce.

What- what- whatever.

Let, let us, let us do some business.

Like, what is the right- Right … number to get ahead of the market so someone else doesn’t throw him a silly contract?

And, and if you’re- And keep him And that’s the thing, Andrew, if you’re Daniel Jones, you’re saying, “Well, I’ll just take my chances of $47 million this year, and I can…” If it’s- I agree … again, if it’s, let’s say it’s- Yeah … it’s two for 70, you’re like, “All I gotta make next year, if I do the quick math, is 23 next year?

I can do that.”

Like, I- why would I sign that deal, Chris?

Like, you know, I mean So from the I think this is all one-sided for the Colts to offer this short-term deal.

I’d be like, “No, no, I’m good with $47 million on a franchise tag this year if that’s all you’re gonna give me.”

So this is a rare case when usually it’s obvious with a franchise tag, like, we’re gonna get the George Pickens in a second.

We all know George Pickens is getting a franchise tag.

‘Cause why wouldn’t he?

This is a rare case where you’re like, “Ooh, oh, this is more of a…” I think a player might be, the one in power here if he gets that tag.

Should the Colts franchise tag Daniel Jones at a projected $47 million?

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