Daniel Jones has a new home.
The now-former Giants quarterback is signing with the Vikings, less than a week after he was granted his release from Big Blue following a rollercoaster five-and-a-half 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.
The 27-year-old Jones was free to sign with a new team Monday upon clearing waivers at 4 p.m. ET.
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 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 overall pick in the 2019 NFL 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.
They will receive about $437,500 in savings because Jones’ contract had offset language, which means his new team owes him the prorated seven-week amount of the minimum one-year salary for his experience ($1.125 million).
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-playoff-contending teams where he might have seen the field sooner, but that was a wise risk not to take 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, Vikings head coach Kevin 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,” O’Connell 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.”
