Daniel Jones has a new home.
The former Giants quarterback is set to sign with the Vikings on Friday, a week after he was granted his release from Big Blue following a roller-coaster 5 ¹/₂ seasons.
He will at least start on Minnesota’s practice squad with Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens atop the team’s depth chart, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday.
Veteran Brett Rypien was the team’s third-string quarterback.
“Excited about the possibility of adding Daniel Jones to our organization, still kind of working through the final details on that, some roster maneuvering and things, but we’re expecting, anticipating Daniel to arrive Friday morning, and very much looking forward to that good addition to our quarterbacks room,” head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters on Wednesday, adding, “I love our quarterbacks room already.”
The 27-year-old Jones was free to sign with a new team Monday upon clearing waivers at 4 p.m.
It’s been a wild week for Jones, who was initially benched by the Giants last Monday following a dismal 2-8 start. Fan-favorite Tommy DeVito was then named the starter.
With the Giants also adding Tim Boyle to the practice squad, Jones was demoted to fourth-string quarterback and requested his release Friday.
“The opportunity to play for the Giants was truly a dream come true,” Jones said last Thursday in a prepared statement. “There have been some great times, but, of course, we all wish there had been more of those.
“I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing more wins. No one wanted to win those games worse than me. I gave everything I had.”
The sixth pick in the 2019 draft, Jones went 22-44-1 as a starter and led the Giants to a surprise playoff run in 2022.
He was rewarded with a four-year, $160 million contract extension in the 2023 offseason.
The Giants still owe most of the $11.83 million remaining on Jones’ contract because he passed through waivers.
Because Jones’ contract had offset language, the Giants will receive about $100,000 in savings if Jones remains on the practice squad for the rest of the season. He can be elevated to the game-day roster a maximum of three times, whether he plays or not.
If Jones is signed to the 53-man roster at any point, the Vikings will owe him the prorated weekly amount of the minimum one-year salary for his experience ($1.125 million), taking slightly more off of the Giants’ tab.
If Jones is injured while playing, the Giants will not be on the hook for the $23 million guarantee in his contract for 2025, however.
Fear of activating that clause — and raising the cost for cutting Jones after the season from a $22.2 million dead salary-cap charge to $45.2 million — is the reason that Jones went from benched for his play (3-13 in his last 16 starts) to fourth-stringer not practicing.
Jones reportedly drew interest from non-contenders, with whom he might have seen the field sooner, but that was a risk wisely not taken before free agency.
Struggling in a second situation around a bad roster where he is learning the offense on the fly could have lowered his value.
Earlier in the week, O’Connell said he expected there to be “a ton of league-wide interest” in Jones.
“I will say tons of respect for Daniel Jones as a player and a person,” the Vikings’ coach said. “I’ve been a fan of Daniel’s for a long time and hope wherever his next stop takes him, it’s a good opportunity for him.”
The Vikings, guided by ex-Jets quarterback Darnold, enter Week 13 at 9-2.
The Giants looked even more lost without Jones, no-showing Sunday in a 30-7 blowout loss to the Buccaneers.
DeVito went 21-for-31 for 189 yards and zero touchdowns. He was also sacked four times.
Jones’ former teammates, including rookie receiver Malik Nabers, called the team’s effort “soft as f–k.”
