- Elite under pressure: Jones ranks in the top five in PFF passing grade in both pressured and blitzed situations.
- Context is important: Shane Steichen's offense has provided easy answers as well as elite pass protection so far.
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Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
One of the more contemporary trends in the NFL has been the reclamation of top-flight quarterback prospects thriving in new ecosystems. Geno Smith with the Seahawks, Baker Mayfield with the Buccaneers, Sam Darnold with the Vikings (and now Seattle) and more all represent the idea that first-round prodigies can still be capable of playing at a Pro Bowl level, even if their tenures at initial destinations flop.
Through the first three weeks of the 2025 NFL season, a similar narrative seems to be unfolding in Indianapolis. The 3-0 Colts have separated themselves atop the AFC South, thanks in large part to Daniel Jones.
After an up-and-down six-year journey with the Giants, Jones was released during the 2024 season, concluding the year with the Vikings. Now, the former sixth overall pick seems much more comfortable in Shane Steichen’s system. Through two weeks, Jones has compiled an 85.0 overall PFF grade — fifth among quarterbacks with 30 or more dropbacks — with an 81.5 PFF passing grade.
The outward numbers and team success seem encouraging with Jones. But, what do other underlying metrics and tape reveal? Let’s break down how legitimate Jones’ hot start on his third team really is.
One of the major components regarding Jones’ improved play is his excellence under pressure. Among the 24 gunslingers with 30 or more pressured dropbacks, Jones’ 64.2 PFF passing grade sits fifth, and he has yet to commit a turnover-worthy play. Also impressive is that Jones’ 5.9% pressure-to-sack ratio when facing heat is the lowest in the NFL.
Along similar lines, Jones has been terrific at navigating blitzes. Despite being blitzed on 57.9% of his dropbacks — the highest rate in the league by over 9% — Jones’ 80.9 overall PFF grade when defenses send extra rushers ranks fourth among qualifiers, as does his 106.0 passer rating.
The most essential component to good play against the blitz is having ready answers. As the tape and grades reveal, Jones has generally accomplished that through three weeks.
The table below indicates Jones’ marked improvement, both under pressure and against the blitz, relative to his last three seasons. Effectively, the Duke product has gone from one of the NFL’s most porous to most efficient players in both situations.
| Season | Overall PFF Grade When Pressured | Overall PFF Grade When Blitzed |
| 2022 | 53.6 | 79.1 |
| 2023 | 39.9 | 35.5 |
| 2024 | 37.3 | 57.1 |
| 2025 | 67.1 | 80.9 |
On top of that, Jones has delivered several well-placed passes, particularly with anticipation. According to PFF charting, Jones’ 20.7% plus accuracy rate is the sixth-best in football among qualifiers.
Both of the aforementioned facets of Jones’ play thus far indicate a player who has demonstrably improved, likely due to better coaching. At the same time, Jones’ 2025 campaign presents more nuances, which complicate his efficacy.
Playing with an elite offensive playcaller like Steichen can certainly elevate any quarterback’s abilities, but it simultaneously detracts from their own individual prowess. In simpler terms, many of Jones’ completions occur on plays that are tremendously schemed to provide easy answers. More specifically, 63 of Jones' 98 dropbacks (64.3%) have come with two or more open receivers, which is the highest proportion of any qualified quarterback.
Consider Jones’ lone touchdown pass against the Broncos in Week 2. The Colts ran a version of Mesh Rail, featuring two overlapping crossing routes and running back Jonathan Taylor leaking out of the backfield. Nobody in Denver’s zone coverage picked up Taylor, rendering it about as easy of a touchdown pass as a quarterback can achieve.
Many of the same themes apply to other designs. More specifically, Steichen is elite at motioning pre-snap to force late communication by defenses, creating natural leverage advantages. That comprises a relatively easy throw and read under center.
While Jones has generally been accurate — sitting 13th in PFF’s accuracy percentage with the sixth-lowest uncatchable inaccurate mark — his tape also reveals several bad misses. Indeed, Jones’ 24.1% uncatchable inaccurate pass rate is the 11th-highest so far.
On certain blitzes, Jones has still been late to recognize open receivers. That delayed processing, coupled with a rushed throwing motion, has led to yanked passes and crucial misses on key downs.
Likewise, Jones has been wont to trust his receivers on 50-50 passes, probably a bit too much. Through two games, Indianapolis pass-catchers have compiled 20 contested targets, the 11th-most among any team.
The Colts’ broader offensive effectiveness also must be weighed in evaluating Jones’ performance. Across the first two games, Indianapolis’ offense ranks second in PFF pass-blocking grade, and its offensive line in particular slots fourth in overall PFF grade. That tremendous protection and wider blocking isn’t coincidental to Jones’ standout performance.
Moreover, Colts pass catchers rank third in yards after the catch and second yards after the catch per reception, which bolsters Jones’ volume stats. Jonathan Taylor has also been a bell cow, leading the NFL with 60 carries and sitting second in missed tackles forced (16). For context, Steichen only threw the ball once on Indy’s nine-play game-winning drive against Denver, which feels a bit telling.
Jones’ redemption arc has provided a tremendous feel-good story in the preliminary weeks of this year, especially considering the Colts’ long-standing strife under center. His stats and tape reveal a player who seems to have turned a corner in handling pressure, yet one who is unquestionably benefitting from a nearly ideal environment.
For as effective as Jones has been, the caveat is that he's faced two bad defenses. Indeed, the Dolphins and Titans rank 32nd and 28th in defensive EPA per play through the first three games. However, a major test looms this week against the Rams, not to mention when facing the Chargers in Week 7.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen how long Jones maintains his above-average play — which not only feels predicated on his surroundings, but also on avoiding the mistakes that have plagued him for much of his NFL career.
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