Introduction
The NFL free agent quarterback Daniel Jones is signing with the Vikings. That’s the latest from our Jonathan Jones. The news comes just five days after the former first-round pick was waived by the Giants. After six years in East Rutherford. Jones will now serve as Sam Darnold’s backup in Minnesota. The Viking, currently nine and two heading into Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. Good for second in the NFC North.
Jones’ Time in New York
When it comes to Daniel Jones’s time in New York, we know that the numbers are not pretty. You see them on your screen. These all include his postseason experience as well. 87 touchdowns to 73 interceptions. You don’t win many games when the numbers look like that. A 64% passing or completion percentage, I should say.
Jonathan Jones’ Insights on the Move
For more on the news, we bring in our Jonathan Jones to discuss. Fresh off a Plane and ready to talk Daniel Jones. JJ, what do you get for us regarding the situation with him moving to Minnesota?
Yeah, we were anticipating that something was going to happen midweek and then got word yesterday afternoon to likely expect something by today. And so it is this morning that Daniel Jones ultimately decides that he wants to be with the Minnesota Vikings. Somewhere between ten to a dozen teams were all interested in his services. And why not? Because Daniel Jones, while, you know, proving himself worthy of being benched in New York for most teams, is an upgrade at backup quarterback.
Contract and Financial Considerations
And when you consider his price point he is on a prorated one-year veteran minimum contract. So basically, you divide 1.1 million by 17 games, you multiply it by about six games, and you get somewhere between 3 and $400,000. That is owed to Daniel Jones from his acquiring team. While the Giants would pay the remainder of his about $12 million in guaranteed money. It’s a great deal. It’s a great bang for your buck. It’s the cheapest, best backup quarterback that money can buy at this point in the season.
Why the Vikings Were the Right Fit
So Daniel Jones wanted to join a playoff contender. He did not want to join a team that was struggling but could use an upgrade at quarterback. And I’m talking about you. Las Vegas Raiders because where he could struggle with is he goes in, he gets used to the system. It’s going to take a few weeks. Maybe he’s not going to put out the best possible tape in December. Not a high probability or chance of success. And now you have struggled on film with two different franchises in 2024. That would not help your free agency prospects in 2025.
And so he goes to Minnesota, where he is certainly going to start on the practice squad and work his way through learning that system under Kevin O’Connell, behind Sam Darnold. And if you have to break glass in case of emergency, if you’re the Minnesota Vikings you have Daniel Jones there.
Daniel Jones’ Value as a Backup
Yeah, it’s crazy when you think about it too because Daniel Jones for all of the numbers and stuff that we’ve just shown like he’s a playoff-experienced quarterback. So it’s not like this is just a scrub that we’re signing and we’re putting him on as the backup for Sam Darnold. But it is interesting when you look at the situation.
Sam Darnold’s Role and Vikings’ Strategy
Big picture here JJ Sam Darnold is the guy for the Vikings this year. We’ve talked about his career arc and what Kevin O’Connell has been able to do with him. But it hasn’t been perfect, especially over the last couple of weeks.
Do you think part of this signing and adding Daniel Jones to be his backup is for some insurance? If the Vikings get to the playoffs or are approaching that point and maybe don’t feel confident in Sam Darnold.
Yeah, I certainly think it’s insurance all around for the 2024 season right? We know that J.J. McCarthy is out. He dealt with that meniscus surgery several months ago. We know that he is the only quarterback who is under contract in 2025 for the Minnesota Vikings, and so he is their future. Having invested a first-round draft pick in him back in April’s draft.
You get Sam Darnold. And this was supposed to be let’s remember Haley probably a rebuilding year for the Vikings after J.J. McCarthy went down. Everyone was saying that well no one anticipated that they would be where they are right now heading into the final third of the season. Sam Darnold has played well enough for them, but this is a group that you don’t want to turn the football over. You want Brian Flores as defense to probably lead the way and if you can just put up enough points, you’re going to be able to get out of most Sunday games with a victory.
The Importance of Depth in the NFL
But you have some up-and-down play from Sam Darnold, which we have seen throughout his career. But I don’t think this is about necessarily having to ultimately bench Sam Darnold because of some of that up-and-down play. You are one play away from having to go to his backup right? That’s what the NFL is. Everyone is just one play away and so now that you are here Thanksgiving week you have a competitive team where you can win the division when no one expected you to be able to win the division.
Low-risk, high reward for Both Sides
Shame on you. If you don’t go out there and fortify the most important position in all of sports. And so the fact we just talked about it, that Daniel Jones can be had for as cheaply as possible out there, right? The veteran minimum contract. And that there are no expectations on either side. He’s not going out there saying, hey, I have to save my career. I have to go out there and do X, Y, or Z. The Vikings aren’t asking anything of him right now, so it is a low-pressure, low-risk situation for both sides.
And if you need Daniel Jones, Daniel Jones will be there for the Vikings. So I don’t think this is a commentary at all on J.J. McCarthy’s recovery from that knee surgery, where he had a second procedure done, a few weeks or a couple of months afterward. I think he’s still on track there.
I don’t think this is a commentary about Sam Darnold, either. In 2024, or whether Sam Darnold returns to the Minnesota Vikings in 2025. This is all about the here and now because Daniel Jones has not signed up for anything beyond the end of this season, however long it goes with the Minnesota Vikings, it is certainly getting interesting.
The Vikings’ Playoff Push
But you’re at the point of the NFL season, JJ, where if you want to be a contender, you have to make moves. And the Vikings have done just that. To your point, bringing in some insurance in Daniel Jones. JJ we know you just hopped off a flight. We appreciate you hopping on HQ with us to discuss the big news with Daniel Jones headed to Minnesota.