Quality backup quarterbacks in the National Football League are nearly non-existent. If you have to go to your backup quarterback, it's either a young quarterback you are developing, a washed-up veteran hoping to extend their career or a career journeyman.

Going to that backup quarterback likely means the end of your season as you know it. Nobody knows that better than the Minnesota Vikings. After Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon last season, the Vikings started three backup quarterbacks to finish the season and still found a way to be competitive throughout, despite a 7-10 overall record.

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Minnesota Vikings should sign Daniel Jones for one reason

This season, you could argue the Vikings are starting a backup quarterback in Sam Darnold. While they did bring him in to be the guy while rookie J.J. McCarthy was developing, he tore his meniscus and won't return until 2025.

The Vikings currently have Nick Mullens and Brett Rypien behind Darnold and if they have to play those two, the season is likely over. Why not try to bring in a veteran with six years of starting experience in Daniel Jones?

He likely comes cheap, as the Giants will be paying him nearly $13.8 million in salary over the remainder of the season and is arguably better than Mullens and Rypien.

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Even if you don't believe in Jones' ability, it's a move that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should make for one reason: draft capital. Signing Jones could be the latest example of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can exploit the market.

Just catching up to hearing that Daniel Jones was cut, so maybe this has been said already, but as the Comp Pick Guy I should note that if a team signs him this season, they can get compensatory pick credit for him next season—& even backup QBs usually get paid enough to qualify.

— Nick Korte (@nickkorte) November 22, 2024

Think about it: Darnold got $10 million, Jacoby Brissett got $8 million, Marcus Mariota got $6 million, and Drew Lock got $5 million. All of those contracts qualify for the compensatory pick formula.

Is Jones a good quarterback? Good is a relative term, but Jones has had stretches where he has played well in his career. Even if it's just a $5 million deal to be a backup, he would qualify for the formula, which could net the Vikings a compensatory draft pick. They have a projected $75 million in salary cap space and having one more player sign with another team would be a huge benefit.

Adofo-Mensah has been on the forefront of being creative with acquiring assets and this could be a brilliant move.

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