The Indianapolis Colts brought in an embattled signal-caller to compete with Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback role.
While the Colts wanted to make sure Richardson still had a shot at the starting job entering his third season, they also needed to add someone with viable starting experience as competition for the 22-year-old.
Thus, they landed on Daniel Jones, who was released halfway through a four-year, $160 million contract last season.
In a move that will cost the Colts roughly $14 million regardless of whether Jones plays, it was a decision that was met with strong criticism from Seth Trachtman of Yardbarker, who named it one of the most head-scratching moves of the offseason.
"It was clear heading into the offseason that the Colts needed competition for former first-round quarterback Anthony Richardson, but is Jones the answer? Jones has the mobility to keep the same offense intact for both quarterbacks, but he's struggled to protect the ball in six NFL seasons. Even if he takes over for Richardson, Jones is likely just a stopgap for a massive problem," Trachtman wrote.
Jones is a nice fit for Shane Steichen's offense given his ability to run the football, and he has experience working in an RPO system.
With that said, it wouldn't be ideal for all parties involved if Richardson can't beat Jones for the starting job. That would likely spell the end of the entire regime following a tumultuous run since he was selected with the No. 4 overall pick.
The Colts will get a better sense of the competition during OTAs at the end of the month, and all eyes in the Circle City will be on the quarterback position.