Another offseason, another unexpected twist regarding former New York Giants players—this time it's Daniel Jones. After his midseason stint with the Minnesota Vikings, it seemed like Jones had an inside track to re-signing as a veteran bridge quarterback. But a surprising new report is throwing a wrench into those plans.
According to The PHNX Sports podcast, the Arizona Cardinals had “significant interest” in Jones last year and could make a play for him in free agency. Johnny Venerable stated:
“The Arizona Cardinals, per sources, called about Daniel Jones multiple times within the last calendar year. [GM] Monti Ossenfort had a significant interest in signing Daniel Jones. We’re preparing everybody: don’t be surprised if Daniel Jones is an Arizona Cardinal during free agency.”
Minnesota may have viewed Jones as a contingency plan behind J.J. McCarthy, but now they could have competition. And the Cardinals' interest makes sense—especially when you consider the growing uncertainty around Kyler Murray’s future in Arizona.
The Cardinals’ QB situation could open the door for Daniel Jones
Murray’s long-term future in Arizona isn’t as solid as it once seemed. While he’s locked into a five-year, $230.5 million contract, the current Cardinals regime didn’t draft him and may not be fully committed to him moving forward. Arizona could move on from Murray as soon as next offseason, which would cost them $20 million in dead cap but free up $35.3 million in future space, per Spotrac.
If Arizona wants to keep its options open, bringing in Jones as a high-floor backup makes some sense. Murray has battled injuries over the past few seasons, and his 14-22 record as a starter since signing that extension in 2022 hasn’t exactly helped his case.
Jones wouldn’t be stepping into a clear-cut starting role in Arizona, but he’d be in a more fluid situation compared to Minnesota, where McCarthy is firmly viewed as the quarterback of the future. If Murray struggles or the Cardinals decide to move on in 2026, Jones could have a shot at a larger role.
If Jones bolts for Arizona, the Vikings could actually walk away with a compensatory pick, meaning they’d get rewarded for a midseason practice squad stash—because, of course, that’s how things work out for other teams and not the Giants.
At the end of the day, Daniel Jones' next move isn’t about the Giants—but man, it sure is a reminder of how badly they botched his entire tenure. Whether he lands in Arizona or sticks with Minnesota, the fact that he's still drawing interest as a potential starter or high-end backup is a brutal indictment of how the Giants handled their QB situation. Meanwhile, Big Blue is starting from scratch again, still searching for the right answer under center.
Hopefully, general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll get it right this time—because watching another ex-Giant thrive elsewhere would just add to the misery.