The Minnesota Vikings may have named J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback for the upcoming season, but they still prioritize securing a veteran backup. According to Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Ben Goessling, the team didn’t expect to lose Daniel Jones to the Indianapolis Colts, which led them to seek a seasoned backup. With the Aaron Rodgers saga nearing its conclusion after his visit to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, the Vikings spent a week considering the possibility of signing the four-time MVP.
However, during that time, multiple veteran quarterbacks signed with other teams. This includes Jones, who will compete with Anthony Richardson for the Colts’ starting role, along with 16 other quarterbacks who signed backup contracts, such as Jacoby Brissett, Marcus Mariota, Cooper Rush, and Gardner Minshew. As a result, the pool of available free agents has become quite limited, and another option was ruled out off the Vikings list on Friday.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, confirming a report from Fox Sports, announced that Jameis Winston signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the New York Giants on March 21. While the $4 million annual deal isn’t a huge investment for Winston as a starter, it appears that he has the lead for the starting job in New York ahead of the draft.
