Daniel Jones signs with Vikings, according to sources: Why Minnesota is adding ex-Giants QB

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Daniel Jones signs with Vikings, according to sources: Why Minnesota is adding ex-Giants QB

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 have a term of one year.

The Giants released Jones last Friday after benching him earlier that week.

Jones left New York in his sixth season after the franchise drafted him No. 6 overall 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 played in 70 games for New York, throwing for 14,582 yards with 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions and posting a 64.1 completion percentage.

Jones, as expected, cleared waivers after his release because another team was unlikely to claim the $13.8 million in guaranteed money remaining on his contract. Jones signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Giants prior to the 2023 season.

Jones’ move in Minnesota offers a chance for a fresh start

After an up-and-down career in New York, Jones’ landing spot could provide some much-needed stability with a quarterback-friendly coach, Kevin O’Connell, at the helm. Jones was drafted as the heir apparent to two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning. But for six years, Jones played under three-man coaches: Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge and Brian Daboll.

The hope was that Daboll would bring new energy and his quarterback transformation skills to New York when he was hired in 2022. Daboll had worked in Buffalo as an offensive coordinator with Josh Allen. It seemed to work for one season, with Jones playing his best football that first season of 2022, culminating in a playoff win at Minnesota. That earned him a four-year contract worth $160 million.

But injuries derailed his 2023 season and Jones never looked sharp again during his tenure in New York. But perhaps a fresh start with former NFL journeyman quarterback O’Connell is just the recipe for Jones. — Charlotte Carroll, Giants beat writer

Why Vikings make this signing

This move makes sense for the Vikings. The only quarterback they currently have under contract for 2025 is JJ McCarthy, who is recovering from a torn meniscus. Adding Jones gives Minnesota a new potential path and doesn’t eliminate any options. It doesn’t rule out starting quarterback Sam Darnold returning next season. It doesn’t prevent McCarthy from taking over when he’s ready. It simply gives Minnesota another potential backup option for 2025.

In the short term, Jones will be able to assist the Vikings’ quarterback room. The Vikings will get to know him as a player in the meantime. That shared relationship could give the Vikings an edge this season if Darnold signs elsewhere to a significant contract, and if the Vikings believe Jones can back up McCarthy.

That Jones chose Minnesota is a testament to O’Connell, whose work with Darnold this year deserves praise. Darnold is having his best season ever and he is one of the main reasons the Vikings are 9-2. — Alec Lewis, Vikings beat writer