NFL free agency kicked off on Monday with many of the top quarterbacks, including Justin Fields and Sam Darnold, coming off the board. While Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers are still available, the latest NFL rumors indicate Daniel Jones could be the next to land a contract.
Jones, the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, was released by the New York Giants in November. He quickly latched on with the Minnesota Vikings, learning head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system and eventually becoming Sam Darnold’s backup. However, he never saw the field in Minnesota.
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- Daniel Jones stats (ESPN): 2,070 passing yards, 8-7 TD-INT, 63.3% completion rate, 79.4 QB rating
Despite not taking a snap as the Vikings’ quarterback, Jones entered NFL free agency with a solid market of suitors. With the New York Jets (Fields) and Seattle Seahawks (Darnold) filling their quarterback vacancies, it appears Jones is now deciding between two teams.
According to ESPN‘s Stephen Holder, Jones is deciding between contact offers from the Vikings and the Indianapolis Colts. While the terms of the proposals from the clubs haven’t been disclosed, Minnesota and Indianapolis are believed to be offering similar opportunities in 2025.
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- Daniel Jones career stats: 24-44-1 record, 64.1% completion rate, 70-47 TD-INT, 74.3 QB rating, 14,582 passing yards, 2,179 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns
Jones would be allowed to compete for the starting quarterback job with either team this summer. In Minnesota, he would face competition from 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy who missed his entire rookie season due to knee surgery. While McCarthy would be the preferred option, he’s never taken a regular-season snap in the Vikings’ offense and he still needs to put on more weight as part of his recovery.
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In Indianapolis, Jones would provide direct competition for Anthony Richardson to become the Colts starting quarterback in 2025. As with Minnesota, Indianapolis prefers its former first-round pick to win the job and would likely give him the edge if the competition is close. However, Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen are on the hot seat next season, so Jones might have a better opportunity with Indianapolis than Minnesota.