The Colts wanted someone to challenge quarterback Anthony Richardson for the starting job.

They opted for Daniel Jones.

The former Giants starter agreed Tuesday to a one-year, $14 million contract with the Colts, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. Jones’ deal is worth up to $17.7 million.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard projected this sort of move was in the works when he told reporters at the NFL’s annual scouting combine that the team would have an “open” competition for the job.

“I think it’s good for the team, I think it’s good for Anthony,” Ballard said in late February.

Jones, the No. 6 overall pick in 2019 by the Giants who went 24-44-1 with one playoff victory, will get a chance to prove he can still be a starter in the league. He finished last season as a backup for the Vikings after the Giants released him.

Richardson was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft but has struggled with both injuries and accuracy in his first two NFL seasons. He’s just 8-7 as a starter and last season had the lowest completion rate, 47.7%, of any starting quarterback in the NFL. In two seasons, Richardson also has 11 TD passes and 13 interceptions.

Coach Shane Steichen also benched Richardson for two games after he took himself out of a game for a play because he was tired.

49ers embrace change: The 49ers released defensive end Leonard Floyd on Tuesday, cutting ties with one of their more productive pass rushers after one season in the latest move in a major roster overhaul.

The 49ers have already lost several starters from last season’s team through free agency, trades and releases. GM John Lynch said last month at the scouting combine that the 49ers would need to get younger and cheaper after going 6-11 in an injury-plagued 2024 season.

The move with Floyd is just the latest in that realm. The 32-year-old Floyd was second on the team with 8 1/2 sacks while playing all 17 games but struggled in run defense and had one of the lowest pass rush win rates, according to Pro Football Focus.

Floyd agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with the Falcons later Tuesday.

The 49ers will replace three-fourths of their starting defensive line from the start of last season with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave set to be released officially at the start of the new league year and the team also expected to move on from Maliek Collins on Wednesday either with a release or a trade.

The 49ers also have released nine-time Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk, and have agreed to a trade to send star receiver Deebo Samuel to the Commanders.

Several other key players agreed to deals in free agency Monday. Standout defenders Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga reached deals with the Broncos; star cornerback Charvarius Ward agreed to a deal with the Colts; backup tackle Jaylon Moore and running back Elijah Mitchell agreed to deals with the Chiefs; guard Aaron Banks agreed to a deal with the Packers; and backup QB Joshua Dobbs left for the Patriots.