Former Vikings QB Rental Gets MASSIVE New Deal
The Minnesota Vikings are looking to find their next starting quarterback this offseason and it’s pretty clear at this point that the answer won’t be J.J. McCarthy.
Heading into the start of free agency Wednesday afternoon, it still looks like the Vikings will land on Kyler Murray as their new quarterback, but he does plan to meet with them, and other teams this week, before making his final decision.
While Sam Darnold was making himself into a future Super Bowl quarterback in 2024 with the MN Vikings, fellow first round draft pick Daniel Jones was cut midseason by the New York Giants. Shortly after, he signed up for Kevin O’Connell’s QB school, where he got a half-season crash course in a Vikings uniform, late that season.
Clearly, the Minnesota Vikings thought Jones’ half-season of enrollment meant he’d automatically sign up for the full year in 2026. When he didn’t, and left for Indianapolis instead, the Vikings were shell-shocked.
With no backup plan, Minnesota passed on a Aaron Rodgers and blindly traded for Sam Howell during the 2025 NFL Draft, a decision that proved to be the fatal blow to their playoff hopes over the next 8 months.
Daniel Jones cashes in after MN Vikings stop
In 13 games last year with the Colts, Jones threw for 3,101 yards while completing a career-best 68.0% of his passes. He had a 19/8 TD/INT and also ran 45 times for 164 yards and five touchdowns. For a while, he looked like a legitimate MVP candidate. Then, he tore his achilles, ending those hopes and dreams.
Nonetheless, the MN Vikings showed enough interest in bringing Daniel Jones back in 2026 that the Colts were forced to slap a $37+ million transition tag on him, which allowed Indy to match anything Rob Brzezinski and Kevin O’Connell might’ve offered their 2025 half-year rental.
Such an offer never came though. And after a few days of exclusive negotiating, Jones and the Colts came to terms on a new deal worth up to $100 million over the next two seasons and $50 million guaranteed at signing.
A breakdown of Daniel Jonea’ two-year deal:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2026
🏈$88 million base value
🏈$50 million fully guaranteed at signing
🏈$60 million guaranteed for injury.
🏈Max value of $100 million, making it the largest two-year contract in NFL history, per agents Brian Murphy and Andrew Kessler. https://t.co/jCeBNWCSYK
Related: Vikings Offseason Chatter, Greenard Trade Rumors Heating Up
Jones getting a $60 million guarantee coming off of a torn achilles is nothing short of a miracle from his agents. Yes, the Colts were 8-4 when Jones went down, but the outlay is still massive for someone that was looking to prove he still had it.
Of course the Colts know where Jones is at better than anyone else. If they believe he’s the same guy that propelled them into the playoffs one year ago, then who’s to tell them they are wrong?
Still, why Indy didn’t just played Daniel Jones on the transition tag in 2026 — then reevaluate his health and quarterbacking abilities again next offseason — is curious, to say the least.
Another big deal for Daniel Jones
2026 will be Jones’ 8th NFL season after going 6th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. In March, 2023, the New York Giants handed him a four-year deal worth $160 million. They released him just over 1.5 years later, in November 2024.
On his one year deal with the Colts last season, Jones earned $14 million. Now just 28-years-old, Daniel Jones will make at least $50 million more next season, and could get double that over two years, if he plays well.
Related: Insider Urges MN Vikings to Trade Up for Insane Draft Talent
The Colts have committed massive money, between Jones and Alec Pierce, who they extended earlier this week. We’ll see how that plays out for them…
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