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Will Colts Trade Daniel Jones? One Landing Spot Suddenly Makes Sense Ahead of Deadline
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- Will Colts Trade Daniel Jones? One Landing Spot Suddenly Makes Sense Ahead of Deadline
It's safe to say the 2026 season has not gone according to plan for the Indianapolis Colts .
The team had hopes of bouncing back and competing in the AFC South, but that has not happened. Instead, the team is sitting at 2-6 and is just one game out of last place. General manager Chris Ballad has been fired and DeForest Buckner and Quenton Nelson have been traded .
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There are several other Colts who could be next out the door. Quarterback Daniel Jones was benched in Week 8, but head coach Shane Steichen continues to insist Jones is still the starter. The team has been hesitant to trade Anthony Richardson, but they're also hesitant to play him.
Something has to give. Does it make more sense to move Richardson, who is still young, or Jones? Eva Geitheim of SI recently named Jones one of the top quarterback trade targets ahead of the deadline, and one team stands out as a likely landing spot.
Daniel Jones to Vikings Makes Sense
Oct 18, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) attempts a pass against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Trading Jones would accomplish a few things for the Colts. For one, it would give the team so more draft capital as they prepare to enter a rebuild. The move would also allow the team to start Richardson and see if he's capable of holding the job long-term.
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Additionally, trading Jones would allow the Colts to get out of his extension. The Colts gave the quarterback a two-year, $88 million deal over the offseason, but he obviously hasn't come close to being worth that in 2026.
The Vikings desperately need an upgrade at quarterback. The team is 6-1, but that's despite being 31st in passing yards per game. Kyler Murray has thrown for just 1,022 yards in six games, with five touchdowns and three interceptions.
It's not like Jones has been better than that in 2026. The quarterback has thrown for 1,542 yards with five touchdowns and nine interceptions. However, Jones briefly played on the Vikings at the end of 2024, so the playbook wouldn't be totally foreign to him.
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Perhaps Kevin O'Connell could work his magic and make Jones look like he did in 2025 before being injured. There's already been smoke about the Vikings being interested in Jones , so it wouldn't come out of nowhere.
This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
