Vikings Linked to Another High-Profile QB in 2025
If the Minnesota Vikings don’t re-sign Sam Darnold in 2025, some believe New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones could be on the team’s offseason radar.
Vikings Linked to Another High-Profile QB in 2025
The Giants benched Jones this week, pivoting to Tommy DeVito — and possibly Drew Lock if DeVito doesn’t shine. And on Thursday, Jones essentially gave a farewell address to Giants fans at a press conference, a clear signal that he’ll be released before too long.
Therefore, as Minnesota might need another insurance policy quarterback in 2025, Jones has entered the chat for the Vikings, at least in theory. KSTP’s Darren Wolfson swatted away Aaron Rodgers-themed rumors this week on SKOR North airwaves and opined, “No, I don’t see any scenario where Aaron Rodgers lands here in Minnesota one year from now. I will say this: if we’re talking about a New York quarterback landing here, let’s talk about Daniel Jones.”
Jones and Rodgers, in fact, have jaunted into Minnesota’s rumor mill this week.
So, why Jones? Well, Darnold ranks 11th in the NFL through 11 weeks per EPA+CPOE, and he might be able to parlay his 2024 campaign into a lucrative contract in March. Should he expect a deal worth $25-$40 million annually, that may be too rich for the Vikings’ blood.
Jones, on the other hand, would likely start back at the bottom of the bridge quarterback pay scale — not unlike Darnold at the moment. For example, the Vikings brass may debate re-signing Darnold at a $30 million price point or rolling with Jones as an option at $10 million (just a ballpark example).
The Giants passer offered an emotional statement Thursday that sounded like a goodbye: “The opportunity to play for the New York Giants was truly a dream come true, and I’m extremely grateful to the Mara and Tisch families for the chance to play here. The Giants are truly a first-class organization, and I have nothing but genuine respect and appreciation for the people who have built it and who helped carry on that tradition. I’ve met so many special people and created relationships that will truly last a lifetime.”
“Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and staff that have done so much for me these past six years. There have been some great times, but of course, we all wish there had been more of those. I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing more wins. No one wanted to win more games worse than me, and I gave everything I had on the field and in my preparation.”
Jones ranks 25th this season per the aforementioned EPA+CPOE metric among 33 qualifying quarterbacks.
The Vikings are substantially more likely to hand the QB1 baton to rookie J.J. McCarthy in 2025 than to sign Jones as a QB1. However, Minnesota could explore a high-end backup passer, and Jones will be that for the next few years.
Minnesota could also find a way to reunite with Darnold at an affordable rate, rendering the Rodgers + Jones theories useless.
Jones and the Giants bounced Minnesota from the postseason less than two years ago.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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