The Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to find their starting quarterback for 2025, and yet another potential name is off the board. QB Daniel Jones is finalizing a one-year, $14 million deal to join the Indianapolis Colts and compete with Anthony Richardson, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Former Vikings QB Daniel Jones is finalizing a one-year, $14 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts, per sources. Jones had a chance to return to Minnesota, but now becomes the challenger to the Colts’ former first-round pick Anthony Richardson.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2025
Jones was released by the New York Giants during the 2024 season and latched on with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad. Jones never really lived up to his billing as the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, but he had a strong 2022 season, leading New York to the playoffs, which earned him an extension. The Giants were one of the league’s worst teams over the last two years, though, and they ultimately moved on from Jones.
Given that he’s made a playoff run before, leading the Giants to the NFC Divisional Round in 2022, and has some upside given his ability to use his legs, Jones was thought to be a potential lower-tier quarterback option for the Steelers. Heading into today, he was probably Pittsburgh’s third option behind Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, but he’s now off the board, leaving the Steelers’ options incredibly thin at the position.
Pittsburgh’s situation very well could sort itself out today, but after losing Justin Fields to the New York Jets and Jones now off the board, the Steelers aren’t going to end up with a mobile quarterback, something that Mike Tomlin emphasized at his end-of-year press conference.
Mike Tomlin on how important quarterback mobility is to him going forward: “Very, but that’s not a new discussion. I’ve expressed that in this setting and settings like these for years. The X factor that quarterback mobility is in our game and how it’s trending and been trending,…
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) January 14, 2025
Jones wouldn’t have been an ideal option for the Steelers and he likely would have been paired with a rookie quarterback taken somewhere on Day 2 or early on Day 3. But there aren’t many ideal options left for the Steelers, and it’s likely they’re going to end up with a quarterback whose success will be dependent on an offensive line that hasn’t proven to be consistent.
Jones won’t have a guaranteed starting job with the Colts, but with Anthony Richardson’s struggles, it will likely be a true quarterback competition heading into the season, and Jones could be the perfect player to push Richardson. A one-year deal also allows him to hit the market again next year and try his hand at finding a clear path to a starting job.
