Daniel Jones’ decision to keep his options open amid the Minnesota Vikings’ interest appears to be paying off.
Jones spent the final six weeks of the regular season (and the NFC Wild Card Playoffs) with the Vikings after the New York Giants released him. Jones signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts.
So far, so good for Jones, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Daniel Jones, making his move a little bit minicamp, taking those first-team reps with Anthony Richardson resting his shoulder,” Fowler said on “SportsCenter” on June 14. “Richardson plans to be back for training camp for that battle. But I was told Jones was a fast processor at the line of scrimmage, good chemistry with his receivers, he was, ‘Very sharp,’ as is told to me in minicamp as the guy. So, it’s going to be fascinating once they hit camp in that battle.”
Jones was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2019 draft. He spent five-plus seasons with the Giants, leading them to a 24-44-1 record with 14,582 yards, 70 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions.
Jones did not get on the field with the Vikings, but his potential success in Indy still bodes well for them. He would factor in the compensatory pick formula, which the Vikings have utilized before.
Daniel Jones Reviews Explain Vikings’ Interest
GettyDaniel Jones #13 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on before a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Vikings wanted to re-sign Jones, but they pulled their offer after the former Duke Blue Devil showed hesitancy about returning. Jones being “on time” and “on target” were “prevailing themes” of the Colts’ offseason QB battle, such that it is with Richardson sidelined.
“He’s already gained ground. Anthony Richardson, whom Jones will challenge for the QB1 role, recently “aggravated” the AC joint in his surgically repaired throwing shoulder,” The Athletic’s James Boyd wrote on June 13. “The 2023 No. 4 pick will be out indefinitely. In his absence, Jones received all of the starting reps during minicamp and appears to have acclimated well to his new surroundings because the football has hardly touched the ground.
“Jones didn’t make many eye-popping throws this spring, but he kept the chains moving.”
Boyd detailed how Richardson’s current injury is “eerily similar” to last offseason, when the Colts held him out on the final day of minicamp, adding that there is “cause for concern” with the former No. 4 pick’s surgically repaired shoulder.
That bodes well for Jones, who took a risk leaving the familiarity of the Vikings, however brief, for the potential of starting for the Colts.
Vikings QB Situation Remains a Source of Intrigue
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings participates in a drill during training camp.
With Jones in Indianapolis and former Vikings starting QB Sam Darnold now with the Seattle Seahawks, it is full-steam ahead with J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota. McCarthy’s spring came with mixed reviews, but he left the Vikings encouraged.
“They like the way he’s throwing the ball, they feel very comfortable with where he’s at going into the training camp,” Fowler reported. “They believe in their three-year plan.”
“They believe they can win a Super Bowl in the next three years,” Fowler wrote.
That is a lot of pressure on McCarthy, but the Vikings’ decision to let Darnold walk, pull their offer to Jones, and pass on Aaron Rodgers, now of the Pittsburgh Steelers, in free agency shows they have faith he can live up to their expectations.
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