Overview
- NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Indianapolis will begin negotiations soon on a multi-year contract to keep Daniel Jones with the Colts, and both sides want a deal.
- If talks stall, the franchise tag remains in play for Jones at a projected 2026 value of about $47 million, with the tag window running through March 3.
- Jones is rehabbing a torn Achilles after a fractured fibula ended a breakout 2025 run, and projections point to potential training camp readiness with acknowledged uncertainty.
- ESPN-cited analysis raises the possibility of adding a veteran quarterback such as Marcus Mariota or Joe Flacco as a bridge option while Jones ramps up, with Riley Leonard also in the mix.
- Indianapolis is also weighing decisions on key free agents like Alec Pierce — who could be tagged — while working with roughly $35.6 million in 2026 cap space, larger 2027 flexibility, and reduced top draft capital after the Sauce Gardner trade.