Vikings in true win-win situation after smart Daniel Jones signing

In a season where everything has seemingly turned out rosy for the Minnesota Vikings amid their 9-2 start, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah may have gamed the system once more with his latest signing. After his unceremonious release, the Vikings have reportedly agreed to a contract with former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones.

Jones, who was given a monstrous four-year contract extension after one half-decent season, won just three games and threw more interceptions than touchdowns during the last two seasons, was waived by the Giants after his recent benching. The Vikings leaped at the chance to resurrect him.

While Sam Darnold is cooking to such a degree that quarterback is not an immediate need for Minnesota, bringing in Jones gives them another experienced passer in the room. It also sets up a scenario where the Vikings will benefit in 2025, no matter what the future holds for Jones.

If the Vikings, who only have injured rookie J.J. McCarthy under contract for next season, are impressed by Jones, they could land a new backup quarterback for 2025 and beyond. If he leaves in free agency next year, Minnesota could get a compensatory pick in the 2026 NFL Draft based on what sort of contract he signs.

Minnesota Vikings will benefit from signing former New York Giants QB Daniel Jones no matter what in 2025

Jones was a subpar quarterback in New York, but he saw his flaws magnified by a roster that didn't give him a ton of support on the offensive line or at wide receiver until this season. His coaching staff appears to be in over their skills and in line for a firing at the end of this season.

While bringing back Darnold amid McCarthy's road to recovery would be a dream scenario for the Vikings, the former No. 3 pick is likely playing his way into a big-time contract elsewhere. As far as backup quarterbacks go, a team could do a lot worse than a quality athlete with six years of starting experience.

Teams around the league will likely show interest in Jones next year as either a high-end backup or stopgap starter alongside a young quarterback. If his next contract is big enough, and Minnesota doesn't spend enough to cancel it out, they'll potentially end up with a valuable pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

With the Vikings' formula for success affording them to take some risks, head coach Kevin O'Connell and the front office seem more than willing to roll the dice on Jones and see if any of the skills that made him a No. 6 overall pick can be improved upon.

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