Ex-Vikings QB Nearing Massive Payday
Daniel Jones chose the Indianapolis Colts over the Minnesota Vikings in March because he believed he could start as the QB1 instead of Anthony Richardson. He was right — and his decision-making may be rewarded before too long with a humongous extension.
The Minnesota Vikings let a couple of notable passers leave their roster orbit in the offseason, and now at least one is scheduled to get a fat paycheck.
That’s the word on the street for Jones, whose team has a hotshot 7-1 record at the moment, cruising toward the first overall seed in the AFC.
Former Vikings Passer Daniel Jones on Tap for Gargantuan Extension
The money is on the way for Jones, they say.
Get Prepared for a Daniel Jones Extension
NFL Network tweeted Sunday, “The Colts are looking to sign QB Daniel Jones to a long-term extension after this season per Ian Rapoport.”
Rapoport personally said on NFL Network airwaves, “I know we’re only halfway through the season, but this is clear: what they are doing with Daniel Jones as the quarterback has been remarkable.”
The Colts don’t need to see any more: Jones is their guy for the long haul, very soon putting their money where their mouth is regarding an extension. Never mind that Jones repeatedly petered out in New York. Indianapolis believes the geographical cure has fixed Jones.
The Numbers and Pace to Date
Jones has notched 2,062 passing yards in eight games, along with 13 passing touchdowns and just 3 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 86 yards and banked 4 touchdowns on the ground, which is mini-Jalen Hurts production.
As a matter of efficiency, Jones ranks fourth in the NFL per EPA+CPOE, behind only Drake Maye, Jordan Love, and Sam Darnold. In ESPN QBR, he checks in second behind Dak Prescott.
And Pro Football Focus calls him the league’s 10th-best passer through eight weeks.
If Jones continues his exact pace through eight games, he’d end the season with this fancy stat line:
- 4,382 Passing Yards
- 36 Total TDs
- 6 INTs
How Much for Jones?
What about the cash? Believe it or not — hopefully you’re sitting down — Jones would command a contract of four years and $200 million or three years and $150 million if general manager Chris Ballard finalized the deal today.
Ballard may want to see how the season plays out before taking the plunge with that investment, but that’s the kind of money Jones will be eyeing. Ironically, that would make him around the 12th-highest-paid passer in the sport. A rule of thumb: if a quarterback is decent or good, the guy gets $40 million per year right off the bat, no questions asked.
Jones Must Finish the Story
Side note: Jones must finish this season strong. Putting a 13-4 season, for example, on paper, only to have the Colts lose their first game in the postseason would accomplish absolutely nothing. And if Jones melted like Sam Darnold did last year in the postseason, the Colts may be skittish about a three- or four-year monster deal.
Jones must basically avoid a faceplant when his team needs him the most, and he’ll remain Indianapolis’ QB1 for the next several years, with plenty of cash to his name.
But he must finish the current campaign on a high note.
The Athletic on Jones
Jeff Howe opined on Jones’ rebirth this week, “Daniel Jones seems to be on a similar course [as Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold]. His brief stop with O’Connell in Minnesota provided a low-stress respite and a crash course in one of the league’s most QB-friendly systems before he assessed his offseason options.”
“Up to that point, the Colts couldn’t have been viewed as favorably as some of the other soft landing spots. They failed the bridge route with Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Carson Wentz, and Richardson’s career has been sabotaged by injuries. Head coach Shane Steichen, who was credited for his work with Jalen Hurts as the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator, still appeared to be a mystery as a head coach. But Steichen’s chemistry with Jones has yielded the league’s best offense through eight weeks.”
Jones will turn 29 in May.
“The offensive line is in a better place, and running back Jonathan Taylor has been his QB’s best friend. It’s not like Jones was a slam dunk, either — if that were the case, he wouldn’t have gotten paid like a No. 3 wide receiver. But if this continues, Jones will join Mayfield and Darnold in a significantly higher tax bracket,” Howe added.
“It could eventually happen for Mac Jones, too, though he’s under contract through 2026. He may be a trade chip, but the 49ers may not want to gamble with starter Brock Purdy’s injury history. In the not-so-distant future, teams may have an opportunity to show Jones how they truly view him.”
Jones is nine games away from earning about $50 million per year. What a world.
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