Daniel Jones Could Be 'Next Sam Darnold' After Colts Contract in FA, NFL Exec Says

After signing with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason, there's a chance that quarterback Daniel Jones will have the chance to get his career back on track.

While Jones is expected to be the backup to 2023 No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson, an NFL executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando that the 27-year-old could revive his career the same way Sam Darnold did during the 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings.

"Jones has a chance to be the next Sam Darnold," the exec said, "but I wonder if that would be good for everyone there. Does the GM (Chris Ballard) need Richardson to win the job? The watch is on for Daniel."

Richardson has struggled over his first two years in the NFL, dealing with injuries and appearing to need more time to develop. In 11 starts in 2024, he completed a pedestrian 47.7 percent of his passes for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Known for his dual-threat ability, he added 499 rushing yards and six more scores.

Jones was released by the New York Giants after his disappointing showing during the 2024 season, and he signed with the Vikings to spend the latter half of the year as Darnold's backup.

Perhaps he picked up some things from Darnold on how to navigate as a veteran quarterback playing behind a young signal-caller, as Darnold was expected to be the backup to 2024 No. 10 pick J.J. McCarthy before a torn meniscus cost him his rookie season.

The newfound opportunity worked wonders for Darnold, as he was selected to his first career Pro Bowl after throwing for career highs of 4,319 and 35 touchdowns. The Colts would certainly be happy if Jones could produce at a similar rate in 2025, but that would likely lead to questions about Richardson's future with the team.