The Minnesota Vikings could consider bringing back Daniel Jones as a “cheaper alternative” to Sam Darnold next season, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Fowler said in a Friday night appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter that Jones, who signed with the Vikings after his November exit from the New York Giants but did not play for the team, “is still on the table as an option.”
The Vikings are looking for a quarterback who will serve as a bridge for J.J. McCarthy, Fowler noted. He reported the Vikings are still “open to doing a deal” with Darnold but could be outbid in free agency.
Minnesota originally signed Jones to their practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster ahead of the playoffs.
O’Connell did not immediately rule out the idea Jones could back up Darnold in the playoffs, but Jones ultimately served as emergency QB3 behind Nick Mullens during the Vikings’ blowout Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Mullens, who made four appearances in relief of Darnold last season, is hitting free agency this offseason.
That leaves the Vikings without any quarterbacks committed outside of Brett Rypien and J.J. McCarthy, whom Fowler reported remains on track to become Minnesota’s eventual franchise quarterback.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters McCarthy, who missed the entirety of the 2024 season with a knee injury, had returned to on-field training by the time the Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs.
O’Connell also said McCarthy’s offseason would give the Vikings a better understanding of “what the quarterback room looks like as a whole,” per The Athletic’s Alec Lewis.
That leaves the door open for another quarterback to start in Week 1 of the 2025 season, although the club could at some point turn to McCarthy during the campaign.
After a breakout 2024 season, Darnold could be looking to find a team where he could get a chance to spend the entire campaign as QB1. If Darnold leaves for that opportunity with another franchise, Jones’ experience in the Vikings’ quarterback room could give him an edge as a potential bridge option next season.