Vikings Linked to Benched QB
Every team needs a quarterback, and the Vikings aren’t any different. Because starter Sam Darnold, backup Nick Mullens, and third-stringer Brett Rypien are all scheduled to enter free agency in March, a new passer is required next to 2024 tenth-overall pick J.J. McCarthy.
Vikings Linked to Benched QB
During last year’s uncertainty at the signal-caller spot, the variety of names in the rumor mill was remarkable, starting with Russell Wilson, Gardner Minshew, and Tua Tagovailoa, but also including sure-fire franchise QBs Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray.
At the end of the day, the Vikings acquired Darnold to be the bridge quarterback between the Cousins-era and the new era with a young QB1, who turned out to be McCarthy. Due to McCarthy’s injury, however, that bridge would span an entire season rather than just a month or two.
Because McCarthy is practically still a rookie without any game experience at the NFL level besides two quarters in the preseason and is coming off a missed season due to a knee injury, it makes sense to have an insurance policy. A new quarterback needs to be found to step into the Darnold role ‒ a guy who can start and keep the team competitive if McCarthy isn’t ready to play in Week 1.
On Thursday, Daniel Jones was mentioned by KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, who thinks Jones is a more likely candidate to wear purple in 2025 than potentially available future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. He said on SKOR North: “No, I don’t see any scenario where Aaron Rodgers lands here in Minnesota one year from now. I will say this: if we’re talking about a New York quarterback landing here, let’s talk about Daniel Jones.”
Darnold has played mostly well in his attempt to revive his career after struggling for the first five seasons with the Jets and Panthers. Last year, he was the backup quarterback under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco and Kevin O’Connell handed him the keys to the 2024 Vikings.
In ten games, Darnold has thrown for 19 touchdowns and ten interceptions, leading his club to an 8-2 record. While there are still some concerns, primarily his turnovers, he has confirmed to teams around the league his starting caliber talent and could garner some interest from another organization in free agency.
The Vikings have their next guy already in the building, but another team without the quarterback of the future on the roster could be willing to pay him more to have some security.
Jones, meanwhile, will be cheap. Ousted by the New York Giants less than two years after signing his massive extension following his postseason success against the Vikings, the former sixth-overall pick has been benched for third-stringer Tommy DeVito. This season, Jones has only collected eight touchdowns in ten games while also logging seven interceptions.
He missed the majority of the 2023 season with a torn ACL but struggled badly in the first six contests with a TD-to-INT ratio of two to six. Over his career, he has thrown for 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.
Jones would be a similar project to Darnold. One problem for the Vikings could be that Jones doesn’t have Darnold’s arm talent, and O’Connell’s offense needs a passer who can make every throw imaginable. One thing he does have, however, is athleticism. Jones is one of the better runners in the NFL from the quarterback position, as illustrated by his 2,179 career rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.
It should be noted, though, that Jones ‒ just like Darnold ‒ could benefit from the great surroundings in Minnesota, learning under O’Connell for a year and playing with a great supporting cast. His offensive line with the Giants has been suspect since joining the franchise, and the receiving group didn’t do him any favors.
The Giants still have to release their pricey quarterback, but that is a formality considering his annual salary of $40 million.
On Thursday, Jones addressed the media, and it sounded like a goodbye: “The opportunity to play for the New York Giants was truly a dream come true, and I’m extremely grateful to the Mara and Tisch families for the chance to play here. The Giants are truly a first-class organization, and I have nothing but genuine respect and appreciation for the people who have built it and who helped carry on that tradition. I’ve met so many special people and created relationships that will truly last a lifetime.”
Jones has played in 70 career games in the regular season and a pair of postseason games ‒ all with the Giants. He continued: “Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and staff that have done so much for me these past six years. There have been some great times, but of course, we all wish there had been more of those. I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing more wins. No one wanted to win more games worse than me, and I gave everything I had on the field and in my preparation.”
At this point, it is quite obvious that the Vikings need another experienced quarterback in the building next to the young McCarthy if Darnold departs.
Jones could be that guy, but there are numerous candidates. Just to name a few: Jameis Winston, Joe Flacco, Andy Dalton, Jacoby Brissett, Taylor Heinicke, and Justin Fields.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt