Daniel Jones’ career revival might be closer than anyone expected

   

If you had “Daniel Jones becomes a sought-after free agent” on your 2025 NFL bingo card, congratulations—you might be the only one. Somehow, after flaming out spectacularly with the New York Giants and getting dumped onto the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad, Jones is now drawing interest from teams actually looking for a starting quarterback.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly in the mix, and if that sounds insane, it’s because it most likely is.

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Rams

Jones' Giants career was a rollercoaster, minus the fun parts. His final season in New York ended with a 2-8 record, 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a midseason release. After signing a practice squad deal with Minnesota, he never saw the field. And yet, Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings have somehow done what seemed impossible: They’ve turned Daniel Jones into a commodity.

Andrew Fillipponi reported the Steelers are eyeing Jones as a potential fit for new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s scheme. The Rams and Cardinals have also been linked to him. So, what exactly is happening here?

Source: There’s interest in former Giants QB Daniel Jones inside the Steelers organization. Quote: “[The Steelers] could do a lot worse than Jones.” With the belief he actually is a good fit for Arthur Smith’s offense. And Mike Tomlin’s preference for a mobile quarterback. pic.twitter.com/C72bn1nPsr

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) February 18, 2025

Daniel Jones might have a legitimate free-agency market after all

The Vikings don’t need Jones. They signed him for pennies, kept him on the practice squad, and now might land a compensatory draft pick when he leaves in free agency. Talk about turning a discarded lottery ticket into actual cash. J.J. McCarthy is waiting to get healthy, and then he figures to be the franchise quarterback moving forward.

If the Steelers (or any other team) throw real money at Jones, Minnesota gets rewarded for simply holding onto him for a couple of months.

The Giants, meanwhile, will get absolutely nothing except the continued reminder that they fumbled the bag with the No. 6 overall pick in 2019.

Let’s be honest—if any team views Daniel Jones as a legitimate QB1 option, it’s more of an indictment on the state of the quarterback market than tangible proof of his talent. Jones was given five full seasons in New York, played behind some bad offensive lines, sure, but also had plenty of opportunities to prove he could be "the guy." Instead, he left behind a resume filled with missed throws, turnovers, and a record (24-44-1) that left a lot to be desired.

And yet, the Steelers apparently think he’s worth a look. Maybe it’s because of his mobility—Mike Tomlin reportedly wants a quarterback who can move. Maybe it’s because Arthur Smith believes he can simplify things for him. Or maybe, just maybe, teams are desperately convincing themselves that a change of scenery is all Jones needs to become a franchise QB.

If the Steelers, Los Angeles Rams, or Arizona Cardinals actually go through with this, Giants fans will get the rare treat of watching another team experience the full Daniel Jones experience—an adventure filled with flashes of promise, head-scratching decisions, and just enough competence to keep hope alive before it inevitably crashes back down.

So hey, Minnesota, if you really managed to convince another team to sign up for the Daniel Jones experience? That’s some next-level wizardry.