Vikings’ QB nightmare: Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold could make NFL history — just not for Minnesota

CBS Sports | American Football | 10/31/2025

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This offseason QB shuffle could lead to a record no team wants

By Douglas Clawson

One of the most difficult things about Fantasy sports is dropping or trading a player only to see that player break out once he lands on another team. It’s Fantasy regret and it’s real!

Now imagine dealing with the real-life regret of letting go of not one but TWO players who are dominating at the most important position in sports. That’s painful. The phrase, “Fool me once, shame you, fool me twice, shame on me,” comes to mind. You might be able to chalk up one loss to bad luck, but two? That’s tough to explain.

That’s what the Vikings are dealing with after Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold were both on their roster last year and signed with the Colts and Seahawks, respectively, for relatively cheap deals this offseason. Plus, Minnesota is dealing with its own quarterback struggles, and you really have to question how they handled J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz injuries.

You couldn’t have scripted a worse situation for the Vikings — and now they’re on the verge of making the wrong kind of history. Minnesota could become the first team in NFL history to lose two quarterbacks in the same offseason who both go on to start playoff games the following year. No team has ever lost two quarterbacks in one offseason who each made the Pro Bowl the next season, either.

Both are good bets to happen this year, as the Vikings’ loss is the Colts’ and Seahawks’ gain. I gotta be honest, I wrote Jones off after he left the Giants and I wrote off Darnold after consecutive clunkers to end last season. So how on earth are both thriving in new homes?

Daniel Jones is doing more than you think

The 7-1 Colts are averaging the most points per drive (3.46) by any team in a season since 2000. The next three teams on the list all featured quarterbacks who won the MVP that year. The 2007 Patriots (Tom Brady), 2018 Chiefs (Patrick Mahomes) and 2020 Packers (Aaron Rodgers).

But how much of that is because of Jones? He has a potential Hall of Fame running back in Jonathan Taylor, a great rookie weapon in Tyler Warren, a solid offensive line and a good play caller in Shane Steichen. Is he a game manager or is he elevating the team around him?

I say “Indiana Jones” deserves some credit for elevating the offense, too. How are the Colts sustaining drives to keep up this historic scoring pace? Jones is keeping the chains moving with some of the most efficient third-down plays ever. He is currently the only quarterback over the last 45 seasons to have a completion rate of 75% and at least 10 yards per pass attempt on third down. The only other quarterbacks who came close to that efficiency for a full season were Steve Young in 1994 (won MVP and Super Bowl MVP), Kurt Warner in 1999 (won MVP and Super Bowl MVP), plus Joe Burrow in 2021 (made Super Bowl).

They used to call him “Danny Dimes” for a reason. He isn’t exactly the captain of the checkdowns. He’s 21 for 30 passing for 408 yards on third down throws to the sticks this year, the best completion rate (70%) and yards per attempt mark (13.6) in the league.