Vikings QB depth chart: What Daniel Jones signing means for Sam Darnold, rest of 2024 season | Sporting News United Kingdom

Free agent quarterback Daniel Jones is signing with the Vikings. The former Giants quarterback took only a short time to find a new home and will now get a fresh start with a new franchise. 

Jones was allowed to earn his starting job for the future this season, but it didn’t happen. He was eventually benched in favor of Tommy DeVito. It looked like Jones was going to ride the bench the rest of the season, but New York decided to eat his dead cap penalty, release the quarterback, and give him a chance to join another club.

While there reportedly were teams interested in giving Jones the chance to start once again in 2024, the 27-year-old heads to Minnesota in order to learn under head coach Kevin O’Connell and a 9-2 Vikings club. He’ll start on the practice squad with Minnesota. 

Here is how Jones fits with his new team’s quarterback depth chart. 

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Vikings QB depth chart

When Jones became available, there was reported instant interest. Due to his contract, he cleared waivers, which also allowed him to sign for the veteran minimum. Jones will become one of the options to backup Sam Darnold, but still finds himself in a better situation than New York. He is under contract just for the remainder of the season, so he’ll be able to test free agency to try and find a starting gig next season. 

Darnold was elevated to the starter before the season when 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason. Originally signed as the backup, the No. 3 pick from 2018 has been stellar for Minnesota, leading the team to an impressive 9-2 record. 

Nick Mullens has been the backup for Darnold for the entire 2024 season. With Jones signing with the team’s practice squad, it likely keeps Mullens in that role for now. However, there is a chance that Jones finds himself bumped up on the depth chart once he get acclimated to the Vikings’ playbook. 

Why did Daniel Jones sign with Vikings?

There are certainly some quarterback-needy teams around the NFL, like the Raiders where he could have joined the team and likely started once he got up to speed on the playbook. However, you can see why there wasn’t much interest in going from one 2-9 team to another.

Landing with Minnesota doesn’t make Jones the starter, but it puts him in a good position if Darnold gets hurt on a team that is firmly in the playoff hunt. 

Plus, this is just a one-year deal. Jones gives the Vikings some insurance as a backup quarterback, but barring an extension, he will still hit free agency in the offseason. While his career in New York didn’t go as planned, he still figures to be one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league. 

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Daniel Jones career stats

Jones was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Duke product wasn’t exactly a dual-threat quarterback, but showed he had rushing upside when he could escape the pocket. He was the second quarterback taken in the draft, behind Kyler Murray, who the Cardinals took No. 1 overall. Jones spent the first six seasons of his career with the Giants but will now get a clean slate with his new team. 

Career passing stats

Career rushing stats