MINNEAPOLIS— The Minnesota Vikings are signing recently released New York Giants quarterback and former first-round pick Daniel Jones, sources confirmed to WCCO.

“A good addition to our quarterback room,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said Wednesday. “I’ve always been a fan. I really like the person, the human being, the make-up and then the player Daniel Jones, I think there’s so much ahead of him that will be really good things that we get to experience personally be part of.”

Jones, 27, was benched last week and later released from the Giants (2-9) amid a disappointing performance so far this season. On Monday, he was officially an unrestricted free agent.

“It’s classic low risk, I don’t know if I want to say high reward, but certainly mild reward for the Vikings,” NFL insider Cody Benjamin told WCCO.

While Jones’ poor play was a factor in his benching, so was his $23 million injury guarantee for next year. The Giants are well out of contention this year and an injury to Jones would cripple them financially next season. Tommy DeVito, the Giants’ new starting QB, is a former undrafted free agent. In seven starts, he is 3-4, throwing for 1,290 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports it’s a one-year deal for $375,000 and the QB will start on the practice squad. It is unclear at this time where Jones will fall on the depth chart this season. Backup quarterback Nick Mullens was solid when asked to temporarily step in for games as Darnold brushed off injuries. O’Connell said they plan to keep Mullens and third-stringer Brett Rypien on the roster.

“Adding Daniel Jones just gives (the Vikings) more security behind Sam Darnold,” Benjamin said. “You never have to feel bad about adding quarterback insurance. Daniel Jones is a guy who already has over 70 career starts at age 27, if you throw in a few playoff games.”

Vikings fans are familiar with Jones as he picked apart the Vikings defense in the the team’s 2022 playoff loss after a 13-4 season.

“He’s played a lot of football, so he’s got a lot of things that you can really look back on as a real positive experience,” O’Connell said. “I think all experience matters when you’re trying to do something as difficult as being a starting quarterback at a high level in the NFL.”

This move also raises questions about what the depth chart will look like next year. First-round pick JJ McCarthy is the only quarterback under contract next year, and he is recovering from a meniscus injury. With Darnold likely to sign elsewhere this season, the Vikings could give Jones an audition for next season as McCarthy’s backup or spot starter. Being on the practice squad also gives Jones the flexibility to sign with another team’s active roster at some point.

“From Daniel Jones’ perspective, he still leaves the door open to join another team if, for example, a starter goes down and there’s an opportunity to start right away,” Benjamin said. “But in Minnesota, in Kevin O’Connell’s place, he gets to be under a coach who has really maximized the quarterbacks at his disposal.”