The Indianapolis Colts, deep in a midseason teardown, face pressure to move quarterback Daniel Jones before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, with the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings emerging as a logical landing spot for a team seeking an immediate upgrade at the position.
The Colts sit at 2-6 after a 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Jones completed 19 of 28 passes for 144 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions before yielding late to Anthony Richardson. The blowout followed a string of trades that already sent Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers after the firing of general manager Chris Ballard.
Jones has struggled in the first year of a two-year, $88 million contract. Through eight games he has completed 162 of 268 passes for 1,542 yards, five touchdowns and nine interceptions, posting a 68.7 passer rating.
That marks a sharp drop from 2025, when he completed 68 percent of his throws for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 100.2 rating before an Achilles injury.
The Colts rank near the bottom of the league in scoring and passing efficiency while absorbing 22 sacks. Richardson has seen limited action and has not provided a clear alternative. Coach Shane Steichen declined to commit to either quarterback after the Jaguars loss, saying the staff would evaluate everything.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote that the Vikings should pursue Jones rather than focus solely on running back Jonathan Taylor.
“In Minnesota, Jones would be an immediate upgrade over Kyler Murray,” Florio wrote. “The difference between Jones vs. Murray could be more significant than the difference between Jonathan Taylor and Aaron Jones/Jordan Mason. Which, if accurate, would result in a bigger overall bump to the offense.”
The Vikings stand at 6-1 after a 19-15 loss to the Detroit Lions. Their defense ranks first in the NFL in points allowed, but the offense has been inconsistent under Murray, who has completed 100 of 154 passes for 1,022 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions in six games. Minnesota averages just 20 points per game.
Jones spent the end of the 2024 season with the Vikings after his release by the New York Giants, though he did not appear in a game. Florio argued the Colts should act now while a contender views him as a short-term fix.
“Now that the Colts are in full-blown pre-rebuild mode, trading Jones should be part of the effort to clear the decks (and stockpile picks) for the next G.M.,” Florio wrote. “And while the Colts have a window to avoid more than $10 million of Jones’s $38 million compensation package for 2027 via a trade in the early days of the new league year in March, they could get more now from a contender that envisions Jones as an immediate upgrade.”
Longtime Colts reporter Mike Chappell endorsed the idea on X. “If I’m Carlie Irsay-Gordon, I’d lend Jones my private jet to get him to Minneapolis. His poor season has a lot to do with a bad supporting cast, but getting out of the contract would assist the reboot.”
A trade before the deadline would leave the acquiring team responsible for the remainder of Jones’ 2026 salary while giving Indianapolis additional draft capital. The Colts already lack their own first-round pick in 2027 after previous deals. Moving Jones would also avoid a potential $35.2 million dead-money charge if he is released before June 1 next year, though a post-June 1 designation could free far more cap space.
Other Colts veterans remain in play. Josh Downs has requested a trade, and Jonathan Taylor has drawn interest from multiple clubs, including the Vikings, Broncos, Packers and Giants. The franchise has signaled a willingness to stockpile picks rather than chase a late playoff push.
With the deadline eight days away, any deal for Jones would need to clear quickly. The Colts host the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday before the deadline arrives at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 10. A move to Minnesota would reunite Jones with a familiar organization while allowing the Colts to accelerate their rebuild under a new general manager.
Steichen’s status remains uncertain after the latest loss. Ownership under Carlie Irsay-Gordon has already overhauled the front office and defensive line. Trading the quarterback who was signed to lead a contender would complete the shift toward the future.
