After joining the Minnesota Vikings‘ practice squad during the 2024 season following his release from the New York Giants, quarterback Daniel Jones was expected to return as part of the team’s future plans.
With Sam Darnold departing, the Vikings aimed to re-sign Jones and pair him with rookie J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The plan was to let Jones and McCarthy compete for the starting role, offering Jones a shot at revitalizing his career while ensuring McCarthy earned his place as the team’s leader under center.
However, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Vikings began to feel that Jones wasn’t fully committed to returning. That hesitation prompted the team to change course quickly. Instead of re-signing with Minnesota, Jones opted to join the Indianapolis Colts—despite reportedly accepting less guaranteed money—where he’ll also have a chance to compete for a starting job.
“The Vikings thought Jones was coming back, but sensed late in the process that his heart wasn’t in it,” Pelissero said on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast. “Minnesota has built a system where QBs tend to thrive, but the message from head coach Kevin O’Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was clear: ‘If you don’t want to be here, we’re not going to hold you.’ So they pulled the offer.”
This decision left the Vikings in quarterback limbo. With McCarthy likely to start, they still needed a reliable backup. Rumors swirled around potential interest in veteran Aaron Rodgers, but as other free agent quarterbacks signed elsewhere, Minnesota remained without a No. 2 option—until the team traded for Sam Howell from the Seattle Seahawks during the NFL Draft on April 26.
After a series of twists involving Darnold, Jones, and even Rodgers speculation, the Vikings seem to have solidified their quarterback room, with McCarthy and Howell set to lead the way.
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