Ex-Vikings Quarterback Auditions for Giants
Jaren Hall is still circulating in the NFL, looking for work after a one-year stint with the Seattle Seahawks in 2024. Hall stopped by the New York Giants‘ facilities this week for an audition, hoping for a practice squad assignment.
The New York Giants decided to kick the tires on an old friend of the Minnesota Vikings this week, a strange move because NYG has plenty of QBs.
The Vikings drafted Hall in 2023, but he didn’t stick around long. Now, he’ll hope the Giants have an open roster spot.
Former Vikings Passer Jaren Hall Snags Tryout with Giants
The more, the merrier for New York at QB?
Jaren Hall Could Join the Fun in the Big Apple
Hall could end up as a Giant. Pro Football Talk‘s Mike Florio wrote Tuesday, “The New York Giants had a very active ‘Tryout Tuesday,’ with 11 free agents showing the coaching staff what they can do. The group was headlined by receiver Diontae Johnson.”
“Also receiving workouts were receiver Jaylen Johnson, running backs Israel Abanikanda, Darrynton Evans, and Montrell Johnson, defensive backs Isaiah Bolden, O’Donnell Fortune, Jalen Kimber, Jarius Monroe, and Doneiko Slaughter, and quarterback Jaren Hall. Hall, a fifth-round pick of the Vikings in 2023, was likely invited to throw passes to the other players.”
If signed, Hall would almost certainly be stashed on the practice squad.
Evidence of a Russell Wilson Trade?
Unrelated to the Vikings — unless Minnesota is an eventual trade partner with New York — Hall’s tryout is a little strange because the Giants have plenty of quarterbacks. At the moment, they have Jaxson Dart, Russell Wilson, and Jameis Winston on the active roster. That’s plenty.
Hall’s audition could be a sign of extra, extra quarterback depth for the practice squad, but most would consider adding him a bit overkill.
Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that Wilson or Winston could be traded in the next five days, with the league’s deadline lurking on November 4th.
Hall on the Tryout Circuit
The Indianapolis Colts have a ton of former Vikings players, notably Daniel Jones, Camryn Bynum, and Mekhi Blackmon, and Shane Steichen’s team almost added another one two weeks ago.
Hall worked out for Indianapolis the way he did for New York, seeking a practice squad arrangement. Somewhat ironically, Indianapolis later signed a different former Vikings passer: Brett Rypien.
But this is the new normal for Hall, travelling the country in search of a practice squad contract.
Short Career with Vikings
Before J.J. McCarthy ever stepped foot in Eagan, there was Jaren Hall — the quiet, calm, developmental hope tucked behind Kirk Cousins during the final act of Minnesota’s long-running quarterback saga. Hall wasn’t a headline name, but in that final Cousins year, he represented something Vikings fans hadn’t seen in a while: a possible Hail Mary succession plan.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took Hall in the 5th Round of the 2023 draft, a selection that fit his analytical mold — low-risk, high-upside, a 25-year-old rookie who played with maturity and poise. For a moment, it even felt like a shrewd move. Hall looked the part: compact, confident, smart with the ball. He didn’t have the rocket arm or terribly flashy highlight reel, but he projected as the composed, situationally aware passer who could survive at Kevin O’Connell University of Quarterbacks.
Six months later, the bottom fell out when Cousins tore his Achilles — and just like that, the hypothetical became reality. Hall was tossed into the fire in Atlanta, and for a couple of drives, he turned heads. He managed the pocket, moved the chains a couple of times, and gave the Vikings faithful a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, lightning had struck twice.
But the NFL gods ruined everything. Hall was concussed and wouldn’t play again until two months later because Joshua Dobbs … happened. The moment the game sped up, Hall looked like what he was — a rookie trying to read at NFL tempo while the walls caved in. He faceplanted in the most important game of the season against the Green Bay Packers.
By the time the following summer rolled around, Hall’s fate seemed obvious. With McCarthy drafted and Sam Darnold signed, Hall’s role dissolved before training camp even began. When the dust settled on roster cut day, he was gone — scooped up by Seattle, buried on their depth chart, and eventually forgotten by fans.
It’s the cruel nature of the sport: a possible late-round success story to a guy searching for practice squad work.
Hall will turn 28 next offseason.
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