Ex-Giants QB Daniel Jones signs with Vikings: What did coach Kevin O’Connell say about him?

Kevin O’Connell to the rest of the NFL: Can’t you take a hint?

Two days before the Minnesota Vikings signed Daniel Jones, the head coach praised the Giants’castoff quarterback — without getting into specifics about the team’s potential interest in the quarterback.

“I will say, tons of respect for Daniel Jones as a player and a person,” O’Connell said on Monday via ESPN. “Got to know him through the draft process years ago. I’m sure now that he’s a free agent and there’s probably a ton of league-wide interest in him, Daniel is going to make the decision that is best for him and his career moving forward, and I’m sure he’s working through that process right now.

“I can just say that I’ve been a big fan of Daniel’s for a long time, and I hope wherever his next step takes him, it’s a good opportunity for him.”

The Vikings (9-2) on Tuesday signed the 27-year-old quarterback, five days after he was released by the Giants, and 10 days after he was benched for Tommy DeVito.

It likely means that the Giants’ two biggest marquee players of the past several years — Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, an MVP candidate with the Philadelphia Eagles — are headed to the playoffs with other teams.

It’s unclear how much — if any — Jones will play for the Vikings. Sam Darnold is Minnesota’s starting QB — and is having a bounceback season — while Nick Mullens is his backup, so Jones should be second string right away.

Jones’ inconsistent play this season — 2,070 passing yards with a brutal 8-7 touchdown-interception ratio — played a huge role in both the Giants’ terrible record (2-8 at the time of his release and 2-9 now) and his eventual benching.

 

But it wasn’t the only thing that got him cut.

Jones had a $23 million injury guarantee — which could have made his inevitable release all the more difficult for the Giants. Put simply: If Jones had suffered a serious injury that prevented him from passing a physical on March 12, he would have received $12 million guaranteed And if he wasn’t able to pass a physical by Week 1 next season, he would have received another $11 million.