Multiple reports says former Giants QB Daniel Jones plans to sign with the Minnesota Vikings practice squad, after having cleared waivers.
The beleaguered Jones struggled after signing an extension with the Giants prior to the 2023 season. The Giants granted Jones his release after he was benched prior to last week's game. He had signed a four-year, $160 million contract in March 2023.
Coming to the Vikings makes some sense for Jones besides giving him a fresh start. Even with Sam Darnold leading Minnesota to a 9-2 record, he's on a one-year deal with rookie first round pick J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings while he rehabs after knee surgery. There's almost no chance Darnold would be back with the Vikings next year so Jones gives them a solid backup option if McCarthy struggles.
It's also been reported that Jones preferred coming to a team that has a QB-friendly system and head coach Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings certainly fit that requirement. O'Connell and the Viking staff took Darnold, a player that struggled mightily after being a high draft pick by the Jets, and turned him into a strength for the team. He's thrown for 2,7178 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He threw for 330 yards and 2 TD's against the Bears last week.
Signing Jones comes with little financial investment too. The Giants are still on the hook for over $11 million of salary. Any team could have claimed Jones off waivers before he became a free agent, although that was an unlikely outcome given that he was still owed that money on his contract for the remainder of this season.
In the event something happens to Darnold the rest of this year, it gives the Vikings an option beyond backup Nick Mullens who struggled with turnovers when he played in 2023 while Kirk Cousins was injured.
Since signing his contract with the Giants, Jones has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL. He's thrown for 2,979 yards, 10 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 16 starts since the beginning of the 2023 season.
He only started six games in 2023 after suffering a torn ACL in Week 9.
But the Vikings would offer Jones a supporting cast he hasn't had the last two years in New York. The most success Jones has had came in 2022 when he led New York to the playoffs where they upset the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.