The Minnesota Vikings have added some depth to their quarterback room.

Daniel Jones signed with the Vikings on Wednesday following his release from the New York Giants, and head coach Kevin O’Connell is thrilled his team acquired Jones amid interest from several other teams.

“He had a lot of interest, and rightly so,” O’Connell said at a press conference on Wednesday (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper). “Daniel decided to come here. I had a great conversation with him over the last few days and was really, really excited when he called me and told me he was coming.”

Jones showed great interest when given free agency. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that 10 teams contacted him and one of those teams gave him a chance to start.

While Sam Darnold will remain the Vikings’ starting player, Jones will have the chance to work with a team outside of the Giants for the first time in his career and play for a coach who Alper said called quarterback development his “passion.”

Jones’ future in Minnesota is uncertain, but O’Connell hasn’t closed the door on his return after the 2024 season.

“I don’t think we need to think about it at this point,” O’Connell said. “I’m just happy to get him here. I think there are short-term and long-term discussions at every position on our roster.”

Jones, who was drafted by New York in 2019 and has been their starter since then, had 2,070 passing yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions before being benched. With Darnold playing well, reps will likely be few and far between for Jones, but the fact that he’s on a new team allows him a fresh start in sixth grade.

Jones is expected to join Minnesota on Friday.

The Vikings have had a great year and are 9-2 after picking up their fourth straight win on Sunday. They are in a good position to make the playoffs and now have a little more insurance should Darnold get injured.