The Minnesota Vikings reportedly explored a trade for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones before the NFL trade deadline, but the deal never came together. The Colts’ reluctance to move on from Jones—not the price of a trade—was the main obstacle, as the team believes the quarterback still has room to improve.
Minnesota entered the week with a 6–2 record and one of the league’s strongest defenses. However, questions at quarterback threatened to limit the team’s prospects for the rest of the season. The Vikings wanted an upgrade at the position and were linked to several potential targets, including Jones, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith.
The team ultimately made a different move, trading with the Las Vegas Raiders to bring Kirk Cousins back to Minnesota. Cousins had previously worked with head coach Kevin O’Connell, and the two found success together in 2022 and 2023. At 38, Cousins was viewed as someone who could step in and contribute quickly because of that familiarity.
Jones was not Minnesota’s only alternative, but the Colts’ position made a deal difficult. Indianapolis reportedly remained confident that the eight-year veteran could return to better form, despite his uneven play this season.
## The Colts believe Daniel Jones can improve
Jones’s performance has raised concerns. After nine games, he had thrown 10 interceptions, putting him close to a career high. His completion percentage was down eight percentage points from the previous season, and he had not been using his legs as often to extend plays or gain yards on the ground.
Those numbers help explain why the Vikings were interested in exploring a trade. They also underline the uncertainty surrounding Jones’s current form. Still, the Colts’ assessment appears to account for more than this season’s statistics.
Jones was 11 months removed from Achilles surgery. A serious injury of that kind can take time to recover from, and the belief within Indianapolis is that he may need additional time to regain his previous level of play. The Colts therefore saw a reason to be patient rather than trade him while his performance was still in question.
The team also had organizational reasons to keep its options open. Interim general manager Ed Dodds reportedly wanted to give the person who takes over the full-time role in 2027 more flexibility. That person could be Dodds himself; he has been considered for general manager openings around the league in recent years.
Keeping Jones would allow the next decision-maker to evaluate him further instead of making a quick judgment during a difficult season. It would also preserve the possibility that his play improves as he continues to recover.
## Indianapolis is weighing its roster options
Jones is not the only veteran player the Colts chose to retain. Running back Jonathan Taylor also remains part of the team’s plans. Indianapolis believes having both players could provide a foundation for future roster decisions.
The Colts could use the returns from trades involving Quenton Nelson, DeForest Buckner, Keenan Allen and Josh Downs to add to that foundation through the draft or further trades in the spring. Keeping Jones and Taylor would give the team two established players to build around while it considers how to use those potential assets.
For Minnesota, the failed pursuit of Jones did not prevent the team from addressing its quarterback concerns. The Vikings instead reunited with Cousins, relying on his previous connection with O’Connell and their shared success. Whether that move proves enough for a team with a 6–2 start and an elite defense remains to be seen.
The Colts, meanwhile, made a different calculation. Rather than treat Jones’s struggles as a reason to move him, they viewed his injury recovery and potential for improvement as reasons to hold on. That belief ultimately stood in the way of a trade with Minnesota before the deadline.
