Vikings Insider Provides Update on QB Daniel Jones

The Minnesota Vikings added Daniel Jones to the quarterback room in November, but his future has remained in doubt since his signing and arrival from the New York Giants.
Vikings insider Darren Wolfson of KTSP has a little more clarity on what way the team wants to go with Jones in 2025. The former No. 6 pick never played a snap for the Vikings this season and can become a free agent in March. That’s in addition to the questions around 2024 starter Sam Darnold, who is also up for free agency, and rookie J.J. McCarthy, who has been recovering from season-ending meniscus surgery.

“The Vikings want Daniel Jones back,” Wolfson said on SKOR North on Jan. 21. “If there’s some sort of setback (with McCarthy), maybe Daniel Jones plays a little bit in September. But that’s something to weigh. But I do know the Vikings absolutely want Daniel Jones back.”
Wolfson notably mentioned Jones in content with McCarthy versus how the former Duke standout would fit in with Darnold and McCarthy. With two free-agent quarterbacks on the roster, the Vikings may have to choose between the two.
Jones has a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Vikings, and he recently had a four-year, $160 million deal with the Giants before his Nov. 22 release. He played nearly six seasons for the Giants, where he completed 64.1% of his passes for 14,582 yards and 70 touchdowns versus 47 interceptions.
Darnold has a one-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings set to expire in March. Because of his 14-win career year, he could command $40.1 million annually or the equivalent of a four-year, $160.49 million deal, based on Spotrac’s projections.

The Vikings will likely have to spend big to keep Darnold or possibly franchise tag him. Minnesota has a projected $64.13 million in salary cap space to work with, per Spotrac.
Darnold earned big pay for much of the season amid a 66.2% completion rate for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns versus 12 interceptions. However, he completed 43.9% of his passes in a 31-9 Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions on Jan. 5, and Darnold followed that up with a two-turnover game in a 27-9 Wild Card defeat against the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 13.
“I just want to say it’s very important we all think about Sam’s body of work, what he was able to do this year when not many people thought he would be able to lead a team to 14 wins,” O’Connell told reporters after the season-ending defeat. “Very rare for a quarterback in his first year … In fact it is rare, most wins for a first-year quarterback with a team.”
“And just the way he came in, committed himself to a daily process to be the best version of himself. It did not work out in the end, and I think Sam would be the first one to tell you, could he have played better tonight? I’m sure he would tell you he could have. Could I have coached better? I promise you I could have,” O’Connell added.

Whether or not “it did not work out in the end” refers to how the season ended, or Darnold’s future with the teams remains to be seen. The Vikings have a less-expensive veteran option in Jones, and the team could go in that direction instead.
O’Connell has said positive things about Jones since joining the team in November. In addition, the Vikings moved Jones up to the No. 3 quarterback spot before the playoffs.
“He looks like a guy, when he throws a football, that’s played a lot of football and in the pocket, his feel,” O’Connell said about Jones in a December press conference. “So, it’s been fun to have him here. I think he’s doing a good job. Little by little, getting more comfortable with what we do around here.”

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