Sam Darnold's likely departure opens up the starting quarterback job for the Vikings in 2025. The franchise is not prepared to hand it to former first-round pic

The New York Giants released Jones half of a season into his four-year, $160 million contract, of which $92 million was guaranteed. All that money in his pocket, plus a relatively lucrative rookie deal as the No. 6 overall pick in 2019 and the need to rebuild his value all lend to Jones coming in at a reasonable price.

During Super Bowl week, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said quarterback Sam Darnold has earned the right to become a free agent. Whether he'll get a crack at free agency remains to be seen. The Vikings have until Tuesday to use the franchise tag on Darnold.

The Minnesota Vikings’ ongoing quarterback conundrum this offseason has been as unclear as initially expected. No one had a stern belief that, at this stage going into March, the organization would have made their decision on who would be under center for next season.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN continues to hear that the Vikings “won’t mortgage their future” to retain QB Sam Darnold this offseason. According to Fowler, there