Colts Star Can Realistically Win NFL MVP

The Colts’ Daniel Jones Can Realistically Win NFL MVP This Season

From a Bust to a Star Overnight

The New York Giants selected Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. When you’re drafted that high, you’re expected to become a team’s franchise quarterback. Yet, that never quite came to fruition.

Jones did have a good season, though, in 2022. That year, he threw for 3,2015 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for 708 yards and seven scores. More importantly, Jones powered the Giants to the postseason. He even helped the team win a playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Jones’ performance in 2022 landed him a massive $160 million contract extension. Unfortunately, his career went downhill after that. Last season, the Giants benched him and subsequently released him. He then signed with the Vikings, although he never played a game for them as he backed up Sam Darnold.

The Colts signed Jones this past offseason. He was brought in to compete with Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback job. Jones, of course, wound up winning the training camp battle and becoming QB1.

Indy fans weren’t exactly thrilled to see Jones win the job. Seeing that he struggled in New York, he was expected to do the same with the Colts. However, he has instantly emerged as a star in Indianapolis. Jones is leading the league in passing yards with 2,404 and is seventh in QBR (70.6).

Can He Get the Job Done?

Yes, Daniel Jones can win the MVP award this season. But for that to happen, he must avoid being the turnover machine that he was against the Steelers. He needs to play like he did during the first eight games of the season when he committed only a total of three turnovers.

Following his poor performance during the Steelers game, Jones probably took a step back in the MVP race. But perhaps he’ll have a bounce-back game against the 3-5 Atlanta Falcons in Week 10.

The top MVP candidates right now are guys like Josh Allen, who won it last season, Patrick Mahomes, and Drake Maye. Jones’ Colts teammate Jonathan Taylor is also in the mix. Yet, it’s unlikely that he’ll win it, seeing that a non-quarterback hasn’t received the award since 2012.

With the recent acquisition of cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, the Colts are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. If Jones can get back to where he was earlier in the season and help Indy finish with the league’s best record, an MVP award is certainly possible.