Vikings’ Plans for Daniel Jones Take a Shocking Turn – Is He Staying or Leaving? Fans Won’t Believe the Latest Update!”

The Minnesota Vikings have been preparing for the possibility of Sam Darnold departing in free agency by bringing in Daniel Jones midseason to evaluate the former New York Giants quarterback.

Jones impressed the Vikings coaching staff and, by the end of the season, was labeled a “potential option” for 2025 by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. With J.J. McCarthy recovering from meniscus surgery in August, Jones appears to be the frontrunner to serve as the Vikings’ veteran bridge quarterback. However, Jones’ release from New York earlier in the season sparked interest from other teams, and that interest could resurface during free agency in March.

According to Johnny Venerable of *The PHNX Sports* podcast, the Arizona Cardinals are among the teams that could pursue Jones as potential competition for Kyler Murray. “The Arizona Cardinals, per sources, called about Daniel Jones multiple times within the last calendar year,” Venerable said on February 11. “[General manager] Monti Ossenfort had a significant interest in signing Daniel Jones. Don’t be surprised if Daniel Jones is an Arizona Cardinal during free agency.”

Venerable and his co-hosts also discussed the uncertainty surrounding Murray’s future in Arizona. The Cardinals’ current regime, led by Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon, who were hired in 2023, is not as tied to Murray as the previous administration. They may prefer to run a more traditional offense that doesn’t rely heavily on Murray’s scrambling ability. Despite signing a five-year, $230.5 million extension in 2022, Murray has struggled, posting a 14-22 record as a starter since then. The Cardinals could cut or trade him next offseason, absorbing $20 million in dead cap but saving $35.3 million in future cap space, per Spotrac.

If Jones were to sign with Arizona, he’d find himself in a similar situation as in Minnesota—backing up a quarterback with an uncertain future. However, Jones’ decision on where to sign will likely depend on where he sees the best opportunity to both develop and compete for playing time. In Minnesota, McCarthy remains the long-term answer at quarterback, and if he shows he’s ready to start Week 1, Jones may opt to explore other options. The Vikings’ quarterback situation remains fluid, and Jones’ next move could hinge on how much playing time he believes he can secure in 2025.