Questions Answered: The Daniel Jones Era, Turkey Day Games, a Compensatory Pick for Vikings
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the November 27th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: The Daniel Jones Era, Turkey Day Games, a Compensatory Pick
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: Is there anything good about Daniel Jones signing with the Vikings? I didn’t think he was very good.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) looks for an open receiver in the first half against the Washington Football Team at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in East Rutherford. Nyg Vs. Was. © Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC.
Answer: Absolutely. The Vikings now have three viable starting quarterbacks in Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, and Daniel Jones.
Darnold will likely remain upright for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs, but if not, Jones would be a sweet insurance policy if something arose injury-wise to Darnold. Jones is a low-end QB1 in the NFL.
He didn’t take off with the Giants, but that doesn’t mean his career is doomed. Jones could flourish with Kevin O’Connell’s tutelage. Look at Darnold. Don’t perceive Jones as the long-term QB1 solution in Minnesota, and your perspective will change. That’s J.J. McCarthy’s job.
Q: Do we care who wins at all in the game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants?
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports.
Answer: Not really — unless one thinks the Cowboys can run the table and finish 10-7. That kind of sprint would perhaps jeopardize the Vikings’ playoff spot if Minnesota started rapidly losing games.
The other two games — Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers — are self-evident for rooting purposes. Above all else, Vikings fans should want the Packers to lose (there’s a surprise, huh?) to give Minnesota some breathing room for second place in the NFC North. Go Dolphins.
And if one believes the purple team can catch the Lions from behind to win The North, well — go Bears.
On the whole, Cowboys-Giants is pretty meaningless for the Vikings’ purposes.
Q: Will the Vikings get a compensatory pick in 2026 if Daniel Jones leaves the team in March?
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
Answer: Yes, he’ll factor into the formula.
Minnesota has a lot of cap space to spend on newcomers and many in-house free agents as-is. The formula isn’t one-for-one, meaning: Daniels Jones left, so the Vikings get Draft Pick X. The process is complicated.
But Jones’ departure will factor into the broad formula.
It’s a win-win.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
