Daniel Jones [hasn't been great](https://horseshoeheroes.com/colts-might-finally-be-getting-version-daniel-jones-giants-fans-despised) for the last two games, at least not as great as he was through most of the first eight games, but let's set that aside for now. Instead of focusing on the relative negative of the last two games, let's look at the impossibly positive that Jones was in eight games. Ultimately, the Indianapolis Colts QB1 is a keeper.
He better be. Indy traded its next two first-round draft picks to acquire cornerback Sauce Gardner, so Jones _has_ to be the guy moving forward. Maybe he is just suffering a slight dip in play and will get back to extreme excellence.
One thing is certain, though. The Minnesota Vikings could have easily kept him on the roster. Instead, the Vikings look rather silly after having both Sam Darnold and Jones on their team at the end of 2024, letting them both walk in free agency, and starting J.J. McCarthy. No offense to McCarthy, as he is basically a rookie after missing all of last year with an injury.
Indianapolis Colts gained from the Minnesota Vikings dropping the ball on Daniel Jones
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still, Minnesota's general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, is wasting at least one prime season of wide receiver Justin Jefferson. While McCarthy has been highly inconsistent and has missed several games with another injury, Darnold and [Jones have both been fantastic](https://horseshoeheroes.com/colts-might-have-brock-purdy-sized-problem-daniel-jones-situation).
Either quarterback would have helped make the Vikings better than their current record of 4-5. Both QBs would have helped Jefferson be more productive, but instead, he is trending toward the worst season of his career.
Maybe Minnesota didn't want to pay the money needed to keep Darnold. Fine. But the Vikings could have kept Jones for as much as $15 million, which is what he signed for with the Indianapolis Colts. McCarthy could have then sat for a little bit longer, and Jones would almost certainly have succeeded in Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell's system.
Even if Jones didn't start in Week 1, and there was no guarantee he was going to do so with the Colts either, Danny Dimes would have come in after McCarthy's injury and surely would have improved the Vikings' offense. Instead of a losing record and a wasted season for Jefferson, Minnesota might have been battling for a playoff spot again.
But the Vikings' loss is the Colts' gain, and thank goodness for it. Even while he hasn't been perfect in the last two games, Indy wouldn't be 8-2 without Daniel Jones. He is also a reason that Indianapolis will make the playoffs this season.