2 Suitors Emerge for Daniel Jones
Most Minnesota Vikings fans, as of mid-February, believe quarterback Daniel Jones will return to Minnesota in 2025.
2 Suitors Emerge for Daniel Jones
The preliminary working theory for Minnesota at quarterback this offseason is:
- The team will let Sam Darnold leave via free agency or franchise tag-and-trade.
- J.J. McCarthy will take the reins of QB1.
- Daniel Jones will rejoin the Vikings’ roster as an experienced backup.
But if folks have it wrong and Jones hits the open market, two suitors have emerged as possible landing spots.
Arizona Cardinals
According to an Arizona Cardinals-themed podcast, the Cardinals could poke around Jones’ would-be free agency.
“The Arizona Cardinals, per sources, called about Daniel Jones multiple times within the last calendar year. Monti Ossenfort had a significant interest in signing Daniel Jones,” PHNX Sports’ Johnny Venerable said last week.
“We’re preparing everybody: don’t be surprised if Daniel Jones is an Arizona Cardinal during free agency.”
The comments were a bit humorous because it appeared that Venerable wanted to prepare Cardinals fans for the worst. That is — “We’re hearing the Cardinals might sign Jones; this is your warning.”
Kyler Murray is under contract through the end of 2028, so any Jones connection to Arizona is merely for backup quarterback purposes. Clayton Tune, a quarterback entering Year No. 3 in 2025, is slated for QB2 duty as the offseason begins, and Jones would obviously represent a significant upgrade.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan tweeted Tuesday, “Source: There’s interest in former Giants QB Daniel Jones inside the Steelers organization. Quote: ‘[The Steelers] could do a lot worse than Jones.’ With the belief he actually is a good fit for Arthur Smith’s offense. And Mike Tomlin’s preference for a mobile quarterback.”
Pittsburgh is currently deciding its quarterback plan for 2025, probably involving two incumbents, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.
This year’s draft is not ideal for 1st-Round quarterbacks outside of Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, who will probably fly off the draftboard in the top five picks. And three years ago, the Steelers reached for Kenny Pickett, an experiment that utterly flopped.
In fact, former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, along with Sam Darnold, have been whispered as Steelers targets, as well.
So, let it be known: Cousins, Darnold, or Jones could all be in play for Pittsburgh.
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 MIN 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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