The Colts are reportedly eyeing four veteran free agents to potentially challenge and push Anthony Richardson for the starting job this offseason.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Indianapolis Colts already have four veteran free agent quarterbacks on their radar including Jacoby Brissett, Justin Fields, Daniel Jones, and Trey Lance:
Colts looking to add to QB room
Fowler: As the Colts look for veteran quarterback options, names on their radar include Daniel Jones, Justin Fields, Trey Lance and Jacoby Brissett. This is a mix of quarterbacks who can support Anthony Richardson and guys who will be looking to start games somewhere. I’ve heard Jones’ name more than once in regards to the Colts.
Indianapolis has not given up on Richardson, but how the team approaches the free agency period will be telling.
For Colts fans, Brissett is of course a familiar face, having played for the franchise from 2017-20 and with 30 starts during that same span.
This past season, Brissett appeared in 8 games (5 starts) for the New England Patriots, completing 95 of 161 pass attempts (59%) for 826 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, and an interception.
Now 32-years-old, the 6’4,” 235 pound quarterback may be most valuable as a mentor for 3rd-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, as well as by providing a stand-up veteran in the locker room—having always been well regarded for his leadership with the Colts previously.
While still possessing a strong arm, Brissett lacks the most mobility of the four options that Fowler lists here—and doesn’t tend to challenge opposing secondaries much downfield.
Meanwhile, now 24-years-old, Lance is most known for being the former 3rd overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
Lance definitely has some elite athleticism, but like any young quarterback has struggled with his accuracy and progression through reads in the pocket.
He appeared in 4 games for the Cowboys last season (1 start) and completed 25 of 41 pass attempts (61%) for 266 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, and an interception.
Then, there’s 27-year-old Daniel Jones, who like Lance, is a former early NFL draft pick—having been selected with the 6th overall pick in 2019 by the New York Giants.
Jones has played some good football at times during his 6-year career—which earned him a 4-year, $160 million contract in 2023, but has struggled with consistency and turnovers.
He started 10 games last season for the Giants, completing 216 of 341 pass attempts (63.3%) for 2,070 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, and 7 interceptions before being declared a healthy inactive and later waived. He was later signed by the Minnesota Vikings as a backup down the season’s stretch.
Like Lance, Jones offers some dual-threat mobility, so the Colts could run some similar RPO play designs and other offensive play-calling like they already deploy with Richardson.
Out of these three aforementioned options, Jones appears to be the most serious for actually challenging and pushing Richardson from an on-the-field playing perspective during training camp.
Personally, I think that a pair of veteran free agents, Justin Fields (mentioned here) or Jameis Winston, could better challenge Richardson from a performance standpoint—albeit with likely higher commanded contracts in free agency.
Fields, a former 2021 11th overall pick of the Chicago Bears, is most similar to Richardson from an age, speed, athleticism, and playing style standpoint.
The 25-year-old completed 106 of 161 pass attempts (65.8%) for 1,106 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, and an interception during 10 games (6 starts) for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also rushed for 5 touchdowns and 289 total rushing yards in 2024.
Perhaps that’s why the Colts are seeking other cheaper options as well, with Jones now as their reported potentially most desired choice.