Daniel Jones has a new home.
The former Giants quarterback ended up signing with the Vikings less than a week after being released by Big Blue after a roller coaster five-and-a-half seasons.
He will at least start on Minnesota's practice squad. Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens are at the top of the team's depth. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. on wednesday.
Veteran Brett Rypien was the team's third-string quarterback.
Jones, 27, was free to sign with a new team after accepting his waiver at 4pm ET on Monday.
It's been a tough week for Jones, who was initially benched by the Giants after a dismal 2-8 start last Monday. Fan favorite Tommy DeVito was then named the starter.
With the Giants also adding Tim Boyle to their practice roster, Jones was demoted to fourth-team quarterback and requested his release on Friday.
“The opportunity to play for the Giants was truly a dream come true,” Jones said in a prepared statement Thursday.
“…There have been some great times, but of course we all wish there had been more of them.
“I take responsibility for not bringing in more wins. No one wanted to win a worse game than me. I gave everything I had.”
Jones, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, went 22-44-1 as a starter and led the Giants to a surprise playoff berth in 2022.
He received a four-year, $160 million contract extension in the 2023 offseason.
The Giants still owe the majority of the $11.83 million remaining on Jones' contract since he passed waivers.
Jones' contract included offset language, which would save them approximately $437,500, which means Jones' new team would have to pay at least one year's salary ($1,125,000) for Jones' experience. This means that you are obligated to pay for 7 weeks on a daily basis.
But if Jones gets injured while playing, the Giants won't get the $23 million guaranteed in his 2025 contract.
Fears that this clause would be triggered, and that Jones' post-season reduction fee would increase from a $22.2 million salary cap dead charge to $45.2 million, led to Jones being forced off the bench to play. (3 wins, 13 losses in the last 16 starts). To the 4th stringer who hasn't practiced.
Jones reportedly attracted interest from teams not in the playoffs and could have been on the scene sooner, but that was a wise risk not to take before free agency.
His value could have gone down if he struggled in a second situation around a bad roster learning the offense on the fly.
Earlier this week, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said he expected there to be “tremendous interest from across the league” in Jones.
“I say much respect For Daniel Jones, both as a player and as a person,” O'Connell said. “I've been a fan of Daniel for a long time and I hope it's a good opportunity for him, wherever his next destination is.”
The Vikings, led by former Jets quarterback Darnold, enter Week 13 with a 9-2 record.
The Giants appeared to have slowed down even more without Jones, but on Sunday they had a no-show and suffered a 30-7 loss to the Buccaneers.
DeVito had 21 of 31 hits for 189 yards and zero touchdowns. He was fired four times.
Jones' former teammates, including rookie receiver Malik Nabors, called the team's effort “soft as a free kick.”
