Daniel Jones Was Right.
The Minnesota Vikings picked up Daniel Jones last season after he was sent packing by the New York Giants. That was a logical and defensible move as he immediately provided a high-upside backup option. It would have been great to keep him for another year, but he apparently knew better.
Daniel Jones left the Minnesota Vikings with hopes of starting for the Indianapolis Colts, and it appears he was right to make that decision.
Daniel Jones didn’t have a good situation in New York. With the Minnesota Vikings, he could have thrived to a level never previously seen in his career. Kevin O’Connell would have not only been the best coach he’s had, but the starting cast could have propped him up to a completely new level.
Despite the Vikings trying to entice him with a sizable contract, Jones opted to sign with the Indianapolis Colts. Rather than battle with J.J. McCarthy for what would have likely wound up in practice reps, he looked to feast on Anthony Richardson.
The Colts’ quarterback situation was complicated. Anthony Richardson is a former first-round pick who was highly touted. He also asked to be taken out of a game for being tired, and Jones saw that as a weakness.
This offseason, Richardson is dealing with a shoulder injury that is set to keep him out for an unconfirmed amount of time. That immediately presented the runway that Jones was looking for. He won’t be throwing to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but he also doesn’t have a talented quarterback to compete with.
Unfortunately, the Minnesota Vikings couldn’t hang onto Jones. His presence would have benefited the organization much more than it would have the offense. Still, seeking a starting role, he clearly read the room right and preyed on a young player incapable of staying on the field.
The Vikings move forward with McCarthy as their starter and Sam Howell as the backup. The former Commanders quarterback could still wind up providing the same level of value that Jones may have.
Now it’s time to find out how right Minnesota was for McCarthy and if Jones has the chops elsewhere.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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