Colts free agent signee QB Daniel Jones on competing with Anthony Richardson

Free-agent signee Daniel Jones met with the media for the first time since joining the Indianapolis Colts, and naturally, he was asked about competing for the starting quarterback role with Anthony Richardson.

"It's an opportunity to come in and compete," Jones said. "I'm looking forward to that. I've had a lot of fun. A lot of respect for Anthony and watching him. He's certainly a talented young player and I think the competition aspect of it brings out the best in everybody. I think we're both interested in helping this team win games and whatever we can do to help that happen."

At the NFL combine, GM Chris Ballard said that there would be an open competition for the Colts' starting quarterback job this summer as the team searched for more consistency at the position.

The rumors coming out of the combine were that Jones was the Colts' top target, and they paid him as such, with Jones signing a one-year deal worth $14 million and could be as much as $17.7 million.

Jones was the sixth overall pick by the New York Giants in the 2019 NFL draft. He would sign an extension with the team prior to the 2023 season but ended up being released roughly halfway through the 2024 season.

Before being let go, Jones had completed 63% of his passes, his lowest mark since the 2020 season. He averaged just 6.1 yards per attempt--which ranked 39th out 44 quarterbacks--and Jones had eight touchdowns to seven interceptions, according to PFF.

Jones would then finish out the 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings, mostly on their practice squad, before being elevated to the 53-man roster late in the year.

"I just signed and at this point I gotta learn the system and catch up," added Jones. "Catch up to where this team is. Coach Steichen has been here a while. This system has been in place, a lot of these guys know it, and have played in it, so I've got to catch up and do my part to get there. So that's where I'm focused right now. Like I said, I'm looking forward to being here, being with the guys, and getting going."

After the news of this singing broke, Tom Pelissero spoke with Richardon's agent, Deiric Jackson, who said that "AR will be ready to roll." Richardson also spoke after the season about embracing whatever competition awaited him.

Both Ballard and Steichen have mentioned that they believe this open competition can help elevate Richardon's play. We saw this, to a degree, play out a bit already, with Richardson playing at a higher level last season after he returned from being benched.

Compared to last offseason, Richardson already has a huge head start compared to where he was a year ago because he is healthy. Richardson is also reportedly working out with the same quarterback expert who worked with the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen early on in his career, as well as with Allen at some point.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts free agency: Daniel Jones on competing with Anthony Richardson

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