The J.J. McCarthy experiment hasn't gone as planned or hoped for the Minnesota Vikings, to say the least. He's been at the forefront of what's been a dispiriting season for the team, and his struggles have reportedly impacted their strategy moving forward.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler believes the current situation in Minnesota "will inevitably affect their 2026 plans." Barring an unexpected rise to stardom from undrafted rookie signal-caller Max Brosmer, the Vikings need a viable alternative to McCarthy.
Fowler listed several players Minnesota could pursue in the coming months to complement McCarthy. However, one name in particular presumably stood out to fans: Daniel Jones.
NFL insider swings door open for Daniel Jones reunion with Minnesota Vikings amid J.J. McCarthy's struggles
As the Minnesota faithful know, Jones donned the purple and gold for less than two months down the stretch of the 2024 campaign. He's since gone on to flourish with the Indianapolis Colts after settling for a one-year "prove it" deal. His efforts upon leaving for greener pastures have ostensibly put him back on the Vikings' radar.
"A few people inside the league I've spoken to wonder whether Minnesota can follow the Colts' blueprint from this past offseason, bringing in a veteran/reclamation project to compete with McCarthy and potentially start -- similar to Daniel Jones vs. Anthony Richardson Sr. in Indy."
From there, Fowler identified Jones as an optimal target for Minnesota, citing the preexisting connection between player and franchise. Nevertheless, given how well "Danny Dimes" has performed with the Colts, the Vikings would presumably need to win a bidding war for his services.
"The funny thing about that scenario is Jones would be an ideal fit in Minnesota, where he backed up Sam Darnold last season. But as the top free agent quarterback, he will score a sizable deal in Indianapolis or elsewhere."
A higher price tag and conceivable increase in competition to sign Jones following his breakout campaign with Indianapolis may not deter the Vikings. Minnesota "really liked" him, per Fowler, which is certainly noteworthy, especially given McCarthy's shortcomings.
Jones has been a revelation for the Colts in 2025. He's completed 69.1 percent of his throws for 2,840 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the NFL in passing success rate (52.6). His mobility has also been on display, adding 159 yards and five more scores on the ground.