The Minnesota Vikings hoped that Daniel Jones would return in 2025, giving the team a viable veteran to help mentor J.J. McCarthy. Instead, he signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts, looking for more playing time than he otherwise would have received in Minnesota.
However, the Vikings can still benefit from Jones if he sees the field in Indianapolis. The more playing time he has, the better chance the Vikings have of receiving a fourth-round compensatory pick in next year’s draft for him.
James Boyd of The Athletic said last month that Jones has taken a “significant lead” over Anthony Richardson, the Colts’ first-round draft pick in 2023. Moe Molton of Bleacher Report doubled down on that, saying that he believes Jones will win the starting job by a “wide margin.”
Jones has led a team to the playoffs. In 70 games (69 starts), he’s thrown for 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions with a 64.1 percent completion rate.
Meanwhile, over the last two years, Richardson hasn’t been able to get through a full season healthy. On the field, he’s completed just 50.6 percent of his passes.
Richardson suffered a shoulder injury during organized team activities and missed mandatory minicamp.
The Athletic’s James Boyd believes Jones has taken a “significant lead” in the quarterback battle. Based on Richardson’s erratic performances and injury history, he’s not going to retain his position.
Jones wins this battle in a landslide.
That would almost ensure the Vikings receive a fourth-round compensatory pick. It would likely be the second compensatory pick in the draft for the Vikings, though, who also appear poised to receive a third-rounder after Sam Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
Whether Jones performs well or not doesn’t necessarily matter, except in cases where his performance forces him to the bench and limits his playing time. So root for Jones to either win the job or take it from Richardson early in 2025, because it will help the Vikings in next year’s draft.