Lost in the shuffle among this year’s free agent quarterback crop, Daniel Jones still looms as a potential bridge option for a team. After Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold rejuvenated their careers on one-year deals in recent years, Jones could be in play for a team eyeing a similar rebound for a once-highly regarded prospect.
Jones had more time with his initial team (by a wide margin) than those players, potentially reducing the chances he can still be a starter-caliber passer, but interest remains in the six-year Giants starter. Holding exclusive negotiating rights with Jones until March 10, the Vikings remain in play to re-sign him in a plan that would not include Darnold.
As Minnesota has until 3pm CT March 4 to use its franchise tag on Darnold, the team could go with a cheaper plan while passing on cuffing its 2024 starter. The prospect of the Vikings re-signing Jones as J.J. McCarthy insurance is believed to be a true consideration, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. This would set Darnold up to hit the market as the top QB option and essentially thrust Jones into the role Darnold held going into the Vikes’ 2024 offseason program. This is not the first time Jones taking Darnold’s Twin Cities spot has come up.
Although a report pegged McCarthy as having work to do — following two knee surgeries — to solidify himself as the Minnesota starter, Fowler pushes back on that by indicating the Michigan alum has already shown he can be the team’s franchise QB. Considering McCarthy lost his entire rookie year due to a meniscus tear, it would be difficult for the Vikings to truly express confidence in their preferred 2025 option being ready. But the team showing this much confidence already would seem to point Darnold out of town.
The Vikings signed Jones to their practice squad last November, keeping him there until January. Jones was not active for Minnesota’s wild-card game, separating this from the situation in which Mayfield used a Rams stopover to help generate some momentum. Jones has next to no momentum after disappointing on his four-year, $160MM Giants extension, but he is a former No. 6 overall pick who will only be going into his age-28 season. Considering Kevin O’Connell‘s acumen coaching QBs, Jones on a bridge deal would be a sensible option for a Vikings team with lucrative contracts at receiver and tight end.
Minnesota has still kept its Darnold card close to the vest, though it would seem the only way he would stay is in the case of a franchise tag, which a recent report tabbed as unlikely. Darnold has a chance to score a much bigger contract, after making the Pro Bowl on the original ballot in a 2024 breakthrough, compared to the one-year, $10MM he inked with the Vikes last March. While his exit would allow for Jones to take his place, Darnold receiving the tag would force Jones to look elsewhere. Even if the Vikings do not tag Darnold, they would need to fend off other suitors for Jones.
One could be the Colts, whom Fowler adds he heard connected to Jones on multiple occasions recently. The Colts are ready to insert Anthony Richardson into a legitimate competition. While the team would understandably hope the former No. 4 overall pick wins it, Richardson’s rampant accuracy issues — before and after a midseason benching — have created a need in Indianapolis. A Jones-Richardson competition would not exactly inspire confidence, but Shane Steichen also played a key role in developing Jalen Hurts. The Colts would hope he can do more with Jones than Brian Daboll could.
Justin Fields, Trey Lance and a Jacoby Brissett reunion are also believed to be options for the Colts, Fowler adds. Indy would need to pay up for Fields, who has been connected to just about every QB-needy team this offseason. The Steelers appear to have him prioritized over Russell Wilson, while the Giants, Jets and Raiders are also being tied to the 2021 first-rounder. Lance-Richardson would be a wild matchup, like a crossroads fight in boxing, as both have not come close to justifying their draft slots. Lance also would not bring much insurance, given his struggles and inexperience.
Brissett has a history of helping the Colts out as a short-term solution, being an emergency Andrew Luck fill-in in 2017 and 2019. He signed a two-year, $30MM Colts extension but left in free agency after backing up Philip Rivers in 2020. Brissett has signed one-year deals in each of the past four offseasons and is unlikely to stay with the Patriots.
“Fowler pushes back on that by indicating the Michigan alum has already shown he can be the team’s franchise QB.”
He showed that in the…preseason…that he didn’t make it through intact…?
OK.
Giants could probably get Jones cheap in FA. Maybe he can hit the ground running with Dabol’s offense.
Jokes aside, I’d like to see what O’Connell could do with him. Giants OL was bad during his time, but I’d say probably maybe 20% of sacks were due to indecision on his reads and not calling the correct protection scheme at the line. either way he definitely played with .ore hesitation since his neck injury.
Well, the advantage with Jones in Indianapolis would be his ability to run the same types of plays already in the playbook if Richardson is the starter. I wouldn’t put much money on Richardson lasting the year intact-I could certainly see it, but I wouldn’t feel confident relying on it as a sure thing.
Jones, for all of the ill he’s garnered, has also shown better accuracy than the strong-armed Richardson has, as well. It would be a good fit, and hopefully for the Colts Jones can impart some experience to Richardson as a veteran if this signing does indeed occur.
Every PFR article related to the Colts is centered on Richardson. Ballard could sign Jones or some other veteran QB but this team isn’t going anywhere until some attention is paid to that awful defense.