Recent reporting on Sam Darnold’s future with the Vikings suggested that the team has resigned itself to the fact that Darnold’s play in 2024 has priced him out of Minnesota, and that the club has not engaged in extension talks with the resurgent quarterback. However, the Vikes may not be willing to give up on a Darnold return just yet.
Per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Minnesota indeed hopes that it will be able to retain Darnold, who has piloted the Vikings to a 12-2 record and a shot at the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Jones’ sources confirm prior reports that the 27-year-old passer has set himself up for a contract that would pay him at least $25MM per season, which is of course a considerable raise on the one-year, $10MM deal he signed with the Vikings this year.
That said, Minnesota is projected to have upwards of $70MM in cap space in 2025, so a “middle-class” QB deal would be feasible. It may even be a bargain if Darnold, under the tutelage of head coach Kevin O’Connell, has truly blossomed into the player the Jets believed he would be when they made him the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 draft.
Darnold’s 104.9 QB rating is the fourth-highest mark in the league, he has led four game-winning drives, and the Vikings are eighth in the league in scoring as of the time of this writing. That performance, combined with Minnesota’s win-loss record, make it no surprise that the team wants him back.
Of course, the Vikes signed Darnold this offseason with the intention of making him a bridge passer, not a long-term fixture under center. As such, the team selected J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick of this year’s draft, and McCarthy was the player deemed to be the quarterback of the future.
According to Jones, that has not changed. The Vikings’ level of faith in McCarthy is as high as it was when he was drafted, and the season-ending knee injury he suffered in August has not altered the club’s view of his career trajectory. However, Darnold’s efforts this season cannot be ignored, and one AFC executive told Jones that McCarthy could become Minnesota’s version of Green Bay’s Jordan Love (a first-round pick who sat behind Aaron Rodgers for several seasons before finally getting a chance to run the show).
Since Darnold’s combination of youth and ability could make him the most desirable QB in this year’s free agent class, it is still possible that his asking price goes beyond the Vikings’ comfort level. But his 2024 showing has afforded him the ability to be selective about his future home, and Jones says the USC product will naturally exercise caution to avoid undesirable situations, like those he found himself in as a member of the Jets and Panthers. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says the Browns would have interest if Darnold hits the open market, though it is unclear whether Cleveland — despite the presumptive presence of a well-repsected offensive mind in HC Kevin Stefanski — would qualify as a desirable situation.
Obviously, Minnesota has proven to be a perfect fit, and if the Vikings are willing to spend, it appears that the door to a multi-year pact between Darnold and the club remains open.
Tag him. Simple enough. Have a legit QB competition this summer. If JJ win’s then trade Sam; if Sam wins, then they have their QB for 2025 season.
Franchise Tag is projected to be $40 million fully guaranteed. Darnold is not worth that. No team will take on that large odds a call hit for him
$40m is cheaper than the $55-60m deals handed out last offseason. I get where you’re coming from, but that’s the cost of locking up a QB1 today.
Darnold won’t get that type of deal. $20-$30 M maybe.
They could give Darnold something like the Mayfield deal (probably a lesser version) with no problem. Something they can get out of easily after two years. They have a huge amount of cap space next season, even with the needs they’ll need to plug in free agency with depleted draft capital. McCarthy has cap hits of under 5 million, under 6 million, and under 7 million the next three years, so it’s not like it’s a huge deal if they’re sitting and grooming him for a couple of years.
The difference between this situation and the Green Bay one was that Rodgers was in his mid-30s when they drafted Love. Darnold is still pretty young and in his prime years. I don’t think he’d look to re-sign in Minny if he has to look over his shoulders, especially if he’s a too QB in this FA class. He is in a good situation though, as he has some weapons in his arsenal in JJettas and Hock and Addison, which is the best he’s ever had.
Agree, there will be several openings this season with few quality QB prospects in the draft. Take the bigger payday with at least two years of guarantees.
Former first rounder who obviously has the talent gets selected by the jets who completely derailed his career. Now he’s with a team and a coach who believes in him. Sign him long term
Does that mean we’ll get to see a Zach Wilson redemption tour soon? lol
Sign Darnold and trade McCarthy for a haul to add to an already strong roster.
Take the bird in the hand and sell the bird in the bush for a fortune while said bird is still on a rookie deal in a QB starved league.
This is a good strategy, imo. It’s obviously hard to develop QBs, and Darnold has looked really good in this O. I think McCarthy will def have some value come this offseason, and lots of teams need QBs.
More like the other way around. Sign Darnold and let McCarthy sit a year under him and then trade Darnold.
And if McCarthy blows, then what?
I get the dilemma, but it seems insane to me to let a now proven qb walk in favor of a guy who has never taken a snap in the league just because the kid was a mid first round pick. Trade McCarthy, make Darnold the franchise qb and be glad you’ve now got a guy.