Just five days after being released, the former sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft has found a new home with the Minnesota Vikings. Jones is signing a one-year $375K deal with the team and will start on the practice squad.
Breaking: Former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is signing with the Minnesota Vikings, according to ESPN and multiple reports. pic.twitter.com/w86f3Dey4f
— ESPN (@espn) November 27, 2024
Just two years ago, Jones and the Giants upset the Vikings in the playoffs, which led to his four-year $160 million deal with the team. Also, the Vikings played Jones in week one of this season, defeating him 28-6. After the game, the Vikings "felt a little bad" for Jones, which adds another interesting dynamic to this signing and story.
Minnesota drafted rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy this season with the 15th overall pick, but he tore his ACL in the preseason and has been out for the entire season. Replacement quarterback Sam Darnold has had himself a career year, leading the Vikings to a 9-2 record and outperforming every season he had with the Jets. The Vikings also have quarterbacks Nick Mullens and Brett Rypien on the roster, but the only quarterback with a deal with the team after this season is the rookie, McCarthy.
Jones will be with the team for the final six regular-season games and however long the Vikings last in the playoffs. After this season, Jones will again have the freedom to sign with whatever team he likes. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is an offensive-minded coach who has produced quarterback-friendly offenses in his three seasons with the Vikings.
Update on QB Daniel Jones pic.twitter.com/xIgmJW9mBn
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 27, 2024
Jones was the QB1 for the Giants just ten days ago. Still, after a dramatic week where the Giants attracted negative headlines and Jones requested release, the team decided it was best to move on immediately. The release of Jones saved the team $23 million in cap space from the injury guarantee in Jones's contract, although if the team had waited until the offseason to release Jones, they would have maximized cap savings.
We will see if Jones gets on the field at all for the Vikings or if he is even promoted from the practice squad. But for the remainder of this season, the 27-year-old will be able to learn under a respected coaching staff and potentially be part of a deep playoff run with an NFC contender.
