The Indianapolis Colts will have contract extension decisions to make on quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor.
Jones has managed to revive his career with the Colts and is a huge reason why Indy is 8-2. Meanwhile, Taylor continues to cement himself as an elite running back and he is even legitimately in the MVP conversation.
Looking ahead, Jones will be a free agent in 2026 and Taylor, who will be in the final year of his contract next year, is certainly going to be looking for a contract extension and raise sooner rather than later.
While some wondered if Jones and/or Taylor would get a new deal during this season, it doesn't appear that will happen.
According to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, "it's crickets" when it comes to contract talks between the Colts and two of their most important players.
Jones adds that the belief is Indy is more focused on navigating this season before diving into two possible extensions that will be very costly.
Daniel Jones appears to be squarely in Indianapolis's future plans. Jonathan Taylor is in the MVP conversation. But as far as I can tell, it's crickets when it comes to money talks.
The Colts appear focused on this season rather than locking up these players mid-season for years to come, according to multiple sources. It makes sense on several levels, including not fraying any nerves when talking about value during what is clearly a special season.
The Colts received flak for signing Taylor to a three-year, $42 million deal a few years back because the team wasn't close to competing for anything significant. Now, Taylor's $14 million AAV looks like a total steal.
However, that price tag is going to jump in his next deal, and it could go as high as $20 million or more annually based on Saquon Barkley's top-of-the-market deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
As for Jones, his $14 million deal is also looking like a steal, but if he continues to play at this kind of level the rest of the way, the CBS Sports insider believes he could net an extension that pays him around $50 million per year.
Considering how down-and-out Jones was last season, it's almost unfathomable that he would make that much. That said, we know the quarterback market is crazy and based on what we know about it, Jones is doing enough to garner that much.
While Taylor and Jones are squarely on track to get lucrative deals, the Colts are wise not to do anything now, and that's especially true with Jones, who has to navigate the rest of this season and prove this isn't a fluke.
The Colts are making the right decision here. Let the rest of this season play out and see how the chips fall before making long-term commitments to Jones and Taylor.
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