Vikings GM Breaks Silence on Daniel Jones’ Future Amid Darnold, McCarthy Questions

The Minnesota Vikings have a significant decision to make under center when it comes to Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy, and the route they choose could heavily influence/be heavily influenced by Daniel Jones’ future with the franchise. The New York Giants cut Jones mid-season, after which the former top-10 pick cleared waivers and chose to join head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings offense. That was not an accident after O’Connell revived Darnold’s career and rehabbed his reputation. If Darnold comes back, the team could trade McCarthy for a draft haul and keep Jones on as the backup, though Jones may want a better opportunity to start than that scenario would provide.

Another equally likely, or potentially more likely, outcome is the Vikings moving on from Darnold and keeping McCarthy on his rookie contract for the next three or four years. In that scenario, Jones returning to Minnesota makes more sense. McCarthy missed his entire rookie campaign with a knee injury that could impact his readiness next year and he has yet to take a regular season snap in the NFL. Jones could sign a one-year contract with the Vikings similar to the $10 million deal Darnold inked in 2024 and serve as a backup and/or bridge QB to McCarthy.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spoke with reporters on Thursday, Jan. 16, about Jones’ future with the franchise. “That was one of the good parts about that move was trying to see [and] give ourselves options depending on what potentially could happen this offseason,” Adofo-Mensah said. “That was a great opportunity for us, and for Daniel also. It’s two ways to see if this is the building he wants to be in. I’ll keep our conversations private in our exit interviews, but he’s a potential option for us going forward.” If Jones leaves in free agency for whatever reason, Minnesota could end up getting a compensatory pick from the NFL depending on the contract the quarterback ultimately signs elsewhere.