After the start of his NFL career as a member of the New York Giants was filled with overwhelming expectations, Daniel Jones escaped to a much quieter part of the country last season when he signed with the Minnesota Vikings midway through the 2024 campaign.
Jones is currently scheduled to become a free agent in March, and while some assume he'll just re-sign with the Vikings to serve as the backup quarterback behind J.J. McCarthy next season, that's still far from a guarantee.
Given his experience as a starting signal-caller in the NFL (69 career starts), Jones will likely have some interest from multiple teams in need of quarterback help this offseason. According to 93.7 The Fan's Andrew Fillipponi on Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers are believed to be among those who could be interested in signing the veteran passer this year.
"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."
Could the Pittsburgh Steelers steal away Daniel Jones from the Minnesota Vikings?
When it comes to salary cap space this offseason, the Vikings and Steelers are currently projected to have a very similar amount. According to OverTheCap.com, Minnesota is currently expected to begin free agency with $63.3 million in cap space, while Pittsburgh will begin the new league year with $60.3 million.
Jones isn't expected to cost a ton to sign in free agency this offseason, so both the Vikings and Steelers will clearly be able to afford him. It will likely just come down to what he believes will give him the best opportunity to extend his tenure in the league.
With Minnesota, Jones would be utilized as a backup for McCarthy, while Pittsburgh might be able to offer him a better opportunity to start next season. Both quarterbacks who started for the Steelers in 2024, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, are free agents this year, and it's possible that neither of them will return to Pittsburgh for the 2025 campaign.
Even if the Steelers don't view Jones as their next long-term starter, he might be a good option for them as a bridge quarterback if they're interested in selecting a young signal-caller in this year's NFL Draft.
Regardless, the Vikings are going to likely have some competition when it comes to signing Jones this offseason, and it could lead to them exploring some other potential options to serve as the No. 2 passer behind McCarthy next season.