Insider shares if Daniel Jones has chance to take Anthony Richardson's job

In late February, Indianapolis Colts insider James Boyd of The Athletic wrote that "it would be downright unfathomable" for quarterback Anthony Richardson "to lose the starting job before he starts another game." 

That, however, was before NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero (h/t Eric Edholm) reported on Tuesday that the Colts and Minnesota Vikings backup Daniel Jones had agreed to a one-year, $14M contract that's worth up to $17.7M and included $13.15M guaranteed.

Later in the day, Boyd noted that the cash attached to Jones' agreement "should tell you everything you need to know" about if the Colts plan to hold a real competition involving the 2019 first-round draft pick and Richardson later this year. 

"That’s real money they committed to Jones," Boyd said, "meaning he will have a chance to win the starting job during training camp and the preseason. And that’s the way it needs to be. Richardson hasn’t proved anything yet in the NFL. He hasn’t proved he can win consistently, stay healthy consistently or lead consistently. He’ll have a chance to prove he can do all of those things, but if he doesn’t, the Colts have their fallback option."

The fourth overall choice of the 2023 draft, Richardson thus far has been sidelined due to a concussion, a serious shoulder injury, oblique/ abdominal issues and severe back spasms as a pro. In total, he's made just 15 NFL starts and has largely looked like the work in progress he was when he first entered the league. 

With that said, ESPN's Ben Solak pointed out on Wednesday that a "franchise is in a bad way" if it considers Jones as a legitimate full-time QB1 option for 2025. The New York Giants benched and subsequently released Jones before Thanksgiving 2024 after he was one of the league's worst starting quarterbacks through the first 10 weeks of this past season. Additionally, he missed a total of nine games from the start of the 2021 campaign through 2023 due to different neck-related setbacks before he went down with a torn ACL in November 2023.

According to Pro Football Reference, Jones finished the 2024 season ranked 32nd in the NFL with a 47.8 adjusted QBR. Richardson was 33rd (47.4). 

"Even if this move is a wise one," Solak said about the Colts taking a flier on Jones, "it still tells me storm clouds are gathering on the horizon in Indianapolis." It sounds like some within the NFL think Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen should update their resumes sooner rather than later in the event that Richardson loses the competition to Jones this summer.