Danny Dimes could become "Danny comp pick" by Week 18.
The New York Giants’ former first-round pick Daniel Jones is suddenly back in the spotlight—just not in the way anyone expected.
The Minnesota Vikings, poised for a massive Week 18 showdown against the Detroit Lions, are possibly calling up Jones from their practice squad. But don’t let the Vikings’ PR spin fool you. This move wouldn't be about Jones’ potential; it’d be about gaming the compensatory pick formula.
Jones landed on Minnesota’s practice squad back in November after being cut by the Giants, a brutal end to his tenure with New York. Since then, he’s been working behind the scenes, but the timing of his promotion couldn’t be more telling. The Vikings waited until the very last week of the regular season to potentially activate him, ensuring they’d be eligible for a compensatory pick if Jones signs elsewhere in free agency.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell praised Jones’ efforts when asked about the possibility of his activation actually happening.
"We're gonna have some dialogue about that as far as the timing of it," O'Connell said. "Daniel's been quietly, behind the scenes, putting in some phenomenal work. I’m probably more excited — as I told him the other day — more excited now than even as excited as I was to get him in here day one, just by what he's shown us already. So that's definitely something we're gonna talk about. I feel so fortunate to have, with J.J. really back full speed in those meetings. I mean, you walk in there, you got five NFL quarterbacks sitting there."
Nice words, sure, but the real story here is what this move does for Minnesota’s draft strategy.
The Vikings aren’t playing Daniel Jones—they’re playing the system
Let’s call it how we see it: this move would have nothing to do with getting Jones on the field against Detroit. Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, and Brett Rypien make up Minnesota’s current quarterback depth chart. If the Vikings decide to activate Daniel Jones for the playoffs, it would likely come at the expense of Rypien’s roster spot.
Jones’ only purpose here is to secure future value for the Vikings. If Jones leaves in free agency and signs a decent contract, Minnesota can collect a compensatory pick in 2026. That’s the real game O’Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah are playing.
This is a stark reminder of just how far the G-Men have fallen. While Minnesota is leveraging every angle to maximize value, New York is staring down a top-ten draft pick after another disastrous season. Jones didn’t work out as the answer in New York, but watching him become a chess piece for a playoff-bound team? That’s a tough pill to swallow.
Jones’ possible promotion also throws Minnesota’s motives into sharper focus. The Vikings have been effusive about his development, but if they truly believed he was a key piece for the future, wouldn’t he have been activated sooner? Waiting until Week 18 screams strategy, not opportunity.
For Minnesota, it would be a savvy move. For the Giants, it would be another frustrating chapter in a season full of them. As Big Blue looks to rebuild, the Vikings are showing what it means to make the most of every asset—even a former Giants QB who’s more valuable on paper than on the field.
