By Amos Morale III, Alec Lewis, Charlotte Carroll and Dianna Russini
The Minnesota Vikings are signing former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, team sources confirmed Wednesday. The contract will be a one-year deal.
The Giants released Jones last Friday after benching him earlier that week.
Jones departed New York in his sixth season after the franchise drafted him No. 6 in 2019. The Giants started this season 2-8 with Jones in the lineup and he completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions through those 10 games.
The 27-year-old quarterback has played in 70 games for New York, throwing for 14,582 yards with 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions and tallying a 64.1 completion percentage.
Jones cleared waivers, as expected, following his release, as it was unlikely another team would claim the $13.8 million of guaranteed money remaining on his contract. Jones signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Giants ahead of the 2023 season.
Jones’ Minnesota move offers chance for fresh start
After an up-and-down career in New York, Jones’ landing spot might offer some much-needed stability with a quarterback-friendly coach, Kevin O’Connell, at the helm. Jones was drafted as the heir to two-time Super Bowl champ Eli Manning. But over six years, Jones played under three headed coaches: Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge and Brian Daboll.
The hope was that Daboll would bring in new energy and his quarterback transformation skills to New York when hired in 2022. Daboll had worked in Buffalo as the offensive coordinator with Josh Allen. It seemed to work for one season, with Jones playing his best football that first 2022 season, which culminated in a lights-out playoff victory in Minnesota. That earned him a four-year, $160 million deal.
But injuries derailed his 2023 season and Jones never looked that sharp again during his tenure in New York. But perhaps a fresh start with former NFL quarterback journeyman O’Connell is just the recipe for Jones. — Charlotte Carroll, Giants beat writer
Why Vikings are making this signing
This move makes a world of sense for the Vikings. The only quarterback they currently have under contract for 2025 is J.J. McCarthy, who is recovering from a torn meniscus. Adding Jones provides Minnesota with another potential path and does not eliminate any options. It does not rule out starting quarterback Sam Darnold returning next season. It does not get in the way of McCarthy taking over when he’s ready. It simply provides Minnesota with another potential backup option for 2025.
In the short term, Jones will be able to assist the Vikings’ quarterback room. The Vikings, meanwhile, will get to know him as a player. That shared relationship could give the Vikings an edge this offseason if Darnold signs elsewhere for a sizable contract, and if the Vikings feel Jones could back up McCarthy.
That Jones chose Minnesota is a testament to O’Connell, whose work with Darnold this year warrants praise. Darnold is having his best-ever season, and he is one of the primary reasons the Vikings are 9-2. — Alec Lewis, Vikings beat writer
Required reading
(Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)
