Here’s the “Plan B” for the Vikings Offseason
If Sam Darnold does not agree to an affordable contract extension this offseason — he probably won’t — the Minnesota Vikings already have a built-in Plan B at quarterback.
Here’s the “Plan B” for the Vikings Offseason
In addition to presumably rolling with 22-year-old J.J. McCarthy at quarterback, per the original plan when Minnesota drafted McCarthy 10 months ago, all signs point to Daniel Jones returning with the Vikings as QB2.
That’s the latest and greatest theory for Minnesota’s evolving quarterback conundrum, as the QB2 relationship was forged late last season when Jones, freshly released by the New York Giants, joined the Vikings’ practice squad.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter explained Minnesota’s mindset regarding Jones last week: “And I think that was part of the reason they brought in Daniel Jones because they were kind of getting him up to speed in their system in their organization in the event that they do lose Sam Darnold.”
Free agency is less than three weeks away, and if the Vikings don’t re-sign or franchise tag-and-trade Darnold, he’ll hit the open market, where he can realistically command a contract worth $35-$45 million annually.
Schefter added about Darnold’s immediate future, “I think the Raiders are going to make a play for Sam Darnold. I think Sam Darnold’s a candidate to be the Raiders’ quarterback. We’ll see whether Minnesota lets him go or not, but let’s see if that works out with Sam Darnold winding up in Vegas. And so, if he goes there, then the Vikings have to bring in another quarterback. J.J.’s obviously going to be there; J.J.’s coming along.”
Jones has started 69 games in the NFL, all with the Giants, and has a similar resume per experience to Darnold. With McCarthy recovering from a torn meniscus, Minnesota will likely want a stellar QB2 somewhere on the depth chart, and QB2s may not get better than Jones.
The rumor mill has also whispered a couple of landing spots for Jones if the Schefter reporting is inaccurate. A handful of NFL teams need stopgap quarterback solutions this offseason, and it doesn’t help that the 2025 rookie quarterback class is skinny compared to the 2024 version. The Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers reached the Jones rumor mill this week as a result.
On the whole, though, Jones will likely become Minnesota’s QB2 if Darnold departs. The relationship just makes too much sense.
Like Darnold, Jones will turn 28 this offseason.
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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