Kevin O'Connell 'Really Excited' Daniel Jones Chose Vikings Contract amid Interest

The Minnesota Vikings added some depth to their quarterback room.

Daniel Jones signed with the Vikings on Wednesday following his release from the New York Giants, and head coach Kevin O'Connell is ecstatic his team landed Jones amid interest from several other teams.

"He had a lot of interest, and rightly so," O'Connell said at a Wednesday press conference (h/t Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper). "Daniel chose to came here. Had some great dialogue with him over the past couple of days and was really, really excited when he called me and told me he was coming."

Jones had plenty of interest once he hit free agency. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that 10 teams had contacted him and one of those teams would have given him the chance to start.

While Sam Darnold will remain the Vikings starter under center, Jones will have the chance to work with a non-Giants staff for the first time in his career and play for a coach who called developing quarterbacks his "passion," per Alper.

Jones' future in Minnesota is uncertain, but O'Connell didn't close the door on him returning after the 2024 season.

"I don't think we need to think about that at this time," O'Connell said. "I'm just excited to get him here. I think there are short-term and long-term conversations that are going on at every position on our roster."

Jones, who was drafted by New York in 2019 and had been its starter ever since, had 2,070 passing yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions before being benched. The reps will likely be few and far between for Jones with Darnold playing well, but being on a new team gives him a fresh start in Year 6.

Jones is expected to join Minnesota on Friday.

The Vikings are having a tremendous year, sitting at 9-2 after picking up their fourth consecutive win on Sunday. They are in a good position to make the playoffs and now have some more insurance if Darnold were to get hurt.