Minnesota Vikings sign former New York Giants QB Daniel Jones

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings are signing recently released New York Giants quarterback and former first-round pick Daniel Jones, sources confirm to WCCO.

“Good addition to our quarterback room,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said Wednesday. “I’ve always been a fan. Really like the person, the person, the make-up and then the player Daniel Jones, I think there’s so much ahead of him that’s going to be really good things that we’re personally going to be. part of.”

Jones, 27, was benched last week and later released from the Giants (2-9) amid a disappointing performance so far this season. He was officially an unrestricted free agent on Monday.

“It’s a classic low-risk, I don’t know if I’d say high-reward, but at least a mild-reward move for the Vikings,” NFL insider Cody Benjamin told WCCO.

While Jones’ poor play was a factor in his benching, his injury guarantee was $23 million for next year. The Giants are well out of contention this year, and an injury to Jones would hobble them financially next season. Tommy DeVito, the Giants’ new starting QB, is a former undrafted free agent. In seven starts, he is 3-4, throwing for 1,290 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports it’s a one-year, $375,000 deal and the QB will start on the practice squad. It is currently unclear where Jones will fall on the depth chart this season. Backup quarterback Nick Mullens has been solid when asked to temporarily step into games as Darnold mitigates injuries. O’Connell said they plan to keep Mullens and third-stringer Brett Rypien on the roster.

“Adding Daniel Jones just gives (the Vikings) more insurance behind Sam Darnold,” Benjamin said. “You should never feel bad about adding quarterback insurance. Daniel Jones is a guy who, at 27 years old, has over 70 career starts if you throw in a couple of playoff games.”

Vikings fans are familiar with Jones as he picked the Vikings defense apart the team’s 2022 loss in the playoffs after a 13-4 season.

“He’s played a lot of football so he’s got a lot of things that you can really look back on as a really positive experience,” O’Connell said. “I think all experience matters when you’re trying to do something as difficult as being a starting quarterback at a high level in the NFL.”

The move also raises questions about what next year’s depth chart will look like. First-round pick JJ McCarthy is the only quarterback under contract next year, and he is recovering from a meniscus injury. With Darnold likely to sign elsewhere this offseason, the Vikings could give Jones an audition for next season as McCarthy’s backup or a spot starter. Being on the practice squad also gives Jones the flexibility to sign on another team’s active roster at some point.

“From Daniel Jones’ perspective, he still leaves the door open to join another team if, say, a starter went down and there was an opportunity to start right away,” Benjamin said. “But in Minnesota, he’s going to be under a coach in Kevin O’Connell who has really maximized the quarterbacks he has available.”