The Minnesota Vikings are likely to make a splash at the NFL trade deadline, and most of the conversation has centered on the running back position. Running back Jonathan Taylor has been a prime target for the Vikings for a multitude of reasons. The biggest reason is that the running game has not been very good.

However, it’s not out of the question that Minnesota could target a quarterback. One name that has popped up recently is Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones. The timing is notable. The Vikings just dismantled Jones and the Colts 16-10 on Sunday, and Jones was far from good against Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his defense. Then again, most quarterbacks do.

So, why would the Vikings trade for him?

Daniel Jones already knows the Vikings offense

Even though his play has been subpar, acquiring Jones has a clear upside for Minnesota. Simply put, Jones knows the offense.

He spent the better part of two months with the Vikings at the end of the 2024 season after the New York Giants released him. That experience would give him the benefit of the doubt as a potential backup, or even as a replacement for Kyler Murray if it came to that.

My sense is that Minnesota wouldn’t be making a move to replace Murray. Instead, the goal would be extra insurance in case things don’t go as well as hoped or Murray suffers an injury. With this defense, the Vikings have the potential to be Super Bowl-bound, and protecting that potential matters.

Jones is not the sexiest name, nor is he the best quarterback you could possibly bring in. Even so, knowing the offense means a much smaller learning curve than acquiring someone who has never played for Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell. That’s a real advantage for a team trying to contend over the second half of the season.

An upgrade over Carson Wentz?

The most realistic outcome is that Jones gives the Vikings an improved backup option over Carson Wentz. Wentz can be good in spot starts, but he isn’t someone you want to trust over a larger sample of four or more games.

Would Jones actually be an improvement? It’s hard to say definitively. The intrigue lies in what Jones showed at the beginning of his Colts tenure in 2025. If O’Connell can unlock even 80% of that version of Jones, this Vikings offense could complement their defense in the way necessary to win a Super Bowl.

That creates real intrigue for Minnesota and its long-term success. A quarterback who already understands the system, paired with a defense capable of carrying the team, is a combination that could pay off in a big way when called upon.

What would a Daniel Jones trade cost?

The cost likely wouldn’t be too much. Jones would be earning a prorated amount of his $6 million salary with the Vikings, unless the Colts decided to eat a large portion of that money so Minnesota would only have to pay the minimum.

Here’s how that $6 million breaks down:

• $5.49 million in base salary  
• $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses

If Indianapolis chooses to absorb most of the money, this would be a very inexpensive move for the Vikings. The Colts, who are likely to move on from Jones after the season anyway, would get at least some kind of draft pick compensation in return. It also wouldn’t save or cost them any more in dead salary cap for 2027. That matters for a team trying to start a rebuild and improve its roster from where it currently stands.

For the Vikings, it’s a low-risk swing. Jones wouldn’t need weeks to get acclimated, and he wouldn’t require a significant chunk of cap space if the Colts are willing to help with the salary.

Will it happen? Only time will tell, and they can get out of the second year of the contract with no dead money. If the Colts are truly looking to punt the season and move on from Jones, though, this is a realistic option for a Vikings team with its sights set on February.