The NFL franchise tag window is officially open, and with the free agency “legal tampering period” set to begin on March 10, teams are starting to make their 2025 plans. For the Minnesota Vikings, that could involve bringing in former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones with a new contract.
After helping revive Sam Darnold’s career in 2024, the Vikings aren’t keen on placing the franchise tag on him at $41.3 million or offering him a contract at that price. With 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy recovering from injury, and potentially Jones still in the mix, the Vikings have a lot to consider, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Daniel Jones could make sense for the Vikings,” Fowler reported. “He’s still an option on the table. He was in the building last year, and he’d be a cheaper alternative to Darnold.” Keeping Jones as a backup or temporary starter while McCarthy gets ready to take over as the franchise QB fits well with the Vikings’ plan, similar to their approach with Darnold last year—another former first-round pick who struggled in a New Jersey-based organization.
Daniel Jones With McCarthy’s injury and Darnold stepping up, the Vikings’ leadership—General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell—may feel confident they can make another quarterback work, even with Jones. Jones had a strong season in 2022, leading the Giants to a playoff appearance and even winning a postseason game, including a victory over the Vikings.
If McCarthy is healthy and shows he’s ready to be the Vikings’ starter, re-signing Jones makes sense. However, if McCarthy isn’t prepared for the season or Darnold thrives elsewhere, the pressure would fall on Jones, a situation that, historically, hasn’t always ended well for him.
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