INDIANAPOLIS – The open competition promised for Anthony Richardson led directly to Daniel Jones.
That’s clear from general manager Chris Ballard’s comments on “Behind the Colts: 2025 Free Agency,’’ a video posted recently on Colts.com.
“We thought Daniel’s skillset and Anthony’s skillset . . . there’s a lot of similarities there,’’ Ballard said. “I think that’s going to help our offensive staff, so, ‘OK, we don’t have to make these wholesale changes with one guy or the other.’
“We’ve got to make the best decision for the team. Whatever the outcome is, the outcome is based on performance.’’
Ballard and coach Shane Steichen have been in lockstep regarding the need for open competition to determine the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback for next season. Richardson has held that position since Steichen named him the starter after the first preseason game of his rookie season.
However, Richardson’s injuries and inefficiency have forced the franchise to dramatically alter its approach at its most influential position. He must earn every snap he gets.
And that led the Colts to adding Jones, the 6th overall pick by the New York Giants in 2019, to a quarterbacks room that’s been dominated by Richardson, the 4th overall pick in 2023.
“Competition brings out the best in anybody,’’ Ballard said in the video. “It’s a competitive league. We’re not just bringing anybody in. It had to be somebody that really (is) going to be able to challenge Anthony, and I think it’s going to go both ways. I think Anthony will challenge Daniel also.
“It’s going to be spirited competition, but I also think it’s going to be one where they help each other to grow, too.’’
The on-field similarities revolve around each’s versatility. Richardson and Jones possess the ability to be heavily involved in a team’s run game.
Richardson set single-season club records last season with 499 rushing yards and six touchdowns despite missing six games. His 635 career yards already rank No. 7 in franchise history for a quarterback while his 10 rushing TDs are fifth-most.
Jones also brings a dual threat to Steichen’s offense. During his unfulfilling six-year career with the New York Giants, he set single-season (708 yards in 2022) and career (2,179) club rushing marks for a quarterback. Jones also holds team records with 15 career rushing TDs and with seven in 2022.
“Excited about both of them,” Ballard said. “Excited to get Daniel in the building.
“I think he’s a really good fit for what we want to do and who he is as a person and who he can be as a player.”
In his post-season meeting with the media in January, Ballard made it clear nothing would be handed to Richardson moving forward.
“I don’t think we can completely stamp it,” he said.
Ballard remained supportive of Richardson and his immense potential, but mentioned Richardson’s injury and inaccuracy issues. He’s missed 17 of 34 regular-season games with a concussion, back spasms, a sprained right shoulder that required surgery and an oblique injury.
In his 15 starts – Richardson was benched for two games last season – he’s completed just 50.6% of his passes, including a franchise-record-low 47.7% in 2024.
“We can’t beat our head against the wall,” Ballard said in January. “We’ve got to have competition at the position . . . competition makes everybody better.
“I mean, we’ll bring who we think is the best guy we can bring in.”
That approach was reinforced during the NFL Scouting Combine.
“It has to be the right guy to create real competition,” Ballard said, “but we want to create real competition.
“It will be open (competition).”
And it will be Daniel Jones.
It’s uncertain whether Ballard considered other options – Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, whomever – but he secured Jones in mid-March with a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $13.15 million.
Jones said the Colts offered “an opportunity to come in and compete. I’m looking forward to that.”
During his introductory media availability March 13, Jones insisted Indy was “the best fit.”
“I’m still very confident in my ability to play quarterback at a high level in this league,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of really good football ahead of me and understand there’s a lot to learn, a lot to grow with.
“You want to be on the field, right? You want to be competing. That’s why we prepare, why we go through all of this is to play, to be on the field and do that.”
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.