NFL 2025: Colts Name Daniel Jones Starting QB

• The Indianapolis Colts have named Daniel Jones their starting QB for the 2025 season
• Jones won the job over incumbent Anthony Richardson, the 4th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft
• As of this writing, the odds for the Colts’ over/under win total have gotten worse
• Jones’ odds to win Comeback Player of the Year are the same

Unsurprisingly, the Colts Decide on Daniel Jones as Their QB

For our original over/under analysis of the Colts, we wrote the following about the QB battle between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones:

The Colts do not have the luxury of waiting for Richardson to become what his tools suggested he could be when they drafted him. Unless he shows that he can be accurate and efficient, he is not trustworthy as the starter. For all of Jones’ flaws, at the very least, they will know what they’re getting. His time with the Vikings on the practice squad and working with Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell will help him after the abuse and inconsistency he endured with the Giants. 

The Colts still have talent on both sides of the ball and are playoff contenders if they get decent quarterback play.

Expect Jones to start and for the Colts to go beyond 7.5 wins.

Why Jones Over Richardson?

Richardson Is Talented, but Raw

In two seasons in the league, Anthony Richardson has played 15 games, just shy of a full season. He has compiled a record of 8-7, thrown for 11 TD passes, and 13 interceptions. His passer rating is 67.8, and his completion percentage is 50.6.

These are not very good numbers.

However, he still has a rocket arm, great speed, elusiveness, and he comes across as a genuinely good guy and team player. His response to losing the QB competition to Jones epitomized professionalism.

It’s unfair to the team to put a QB out there if the coaching staff does not believe he can effectively run the offense.

Jones Can At Least Run the West Coast Offense

As much as Jones’ career has come undone since the Giants selected him 6th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, he’s more polished and trustworthy to run the West Coast offense than Richardson. Since the offense relies on quick decision-making, accuracy, and reading the defense, Jones maintains the skills to be effective.

The Colts have a strong running game with Jonathan Taylor. If the defense knows the QB cannot be trusted to hit on his passes consistently, it can focus on the running game and smother the entire offense. That is not the case with Jones under center.

The Colts are being ridiculed by disgruntled Giants fans who blame Jones for their team’s ills. But during his time with New York, he had three head coaches, four offensive coordinators, and a mediocre supporting cast.

There was never any consistency, and he was frequently injured. The injuries were severe, with a torn ACL, a neck injury, and at least one documented concussion.

The Giants might have been right in moving on from Jones. The fans could be correct in their criticism of him. But if Jones plays well for the Colts, the Giants will deservedly get slaughtered for how they mismanaged and mistreated him.

Shane Steichen Could Be Coaching for His Job

The Colts are 17-17 and are without a playoff appearance in two years under Steichen. After Jim Irsay’s death, his three daughters are running the team. While they say they are moving forward as normal, it would be unsurprising for wholesale changes to be made if the Colts have another disappointing season.

Perhaps Steichen’s decision would be different if he were on stronger footing, but he needs to win. If Richardson showed signs of fulfilling his massive potential, then he’s got the higher upside than Jones. But to make sure the offense is run competently so the Colts are competitive from the start and do not need to worry about a young QB’s gaffes dooming them, they needed to start Jones.

Steichen has the third-highest odds for being the first head coach fired.

Four of their first six games to start the season are against teams that missed the playoffs in 2024. They can’t afford a bad start when they have winnable games.

How Will the Colts Fare With Daniel Jones at QB?

The Colts’ picking Jones to be the starting QB over Richardson should not come as a surprise. It does change how opposing teams will prepare for them. Richardson is highly mobile. While Jones can run, he is more of a pocket passer and has superior accuracy to Richardson.

What’s your perspective on the Colts, their odds, and how Jones will fare starting ahead of Richardson?

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