ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler appeared on SportsCenter today and dropped an interesting update on the situation regarding free agent quarterback Sam Darnold. While Darnold has been viewed as a potential franchise tag candidate, Fowler’s report seems to indicate that that would not be the most likely option for the Vikings. 
With the way the franchise tag costs are determined, the projected cost for tagging a quarterback is around $42.39MM. Minnesota’s stance is reportedly that they don’t intend to “mortgage their future” in order to retain the 27-year-old quarterback who led them to a 14-3 record last season. That doesn’t mean that the team isn’t open to retaining Darnold on a new contract. Fowler indicates that if Darnold fetches big bucks on the free agent market, they would likely let him walk, but a reasonable deal could see Darnold return for another season.
The main takeaway from the report is that the Vikings still view first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy as their future at the position. The No. 10 overall pick in last year’s draft missed his entire rookie season after fully tearing the meniscus in his right knee. The expectation is that, whether it takes six, 12, or 18 months, McCarthy will eventually take over as QB1, and if someone else is starting in 2025, it’s merely as a placeholder.
That mentality makes the approach to Darnold’s contract make a lot of sense. As much as the team would love to have Darnold back after his breakout season, a cost anywhere close to $40MM would be far too much for a bridge starter. Fowler offers that another veteran, Daniel Jones, would make far more sense as a re-signing. Jones spent the last six weeks of last season in Minnesota after getting waived by the Giants, giving him some familiarity. If the intention is to bring in a one-year starter until McCarthy is ready, Jones would certainly make more fiscal sense than Darnold.
It will all likely depend on just what Darnold fetches in the free agent market. The team is no longer expected to tag last year’s starter, and if his market isn’t very competitive, he may return on a reasonable deal. Otherwise expect McCarthy or a placeholder for McCarthy like Jones to be the plan for 2025.
lol. will never happen. you don’t draft a QB in the top ten and re-sign a bust
He wasn’t a bust.. he just happened to be drafted by a garbage team who had no idea how to develop a quarterback throughout their history. He was a top 10 pick because he had talent, it’s all about going to the right team
He’s still a bust. One elite year doesn’t outweigh the 6 years of subpar play, even if it’s Jets and Carolina.
He went from 3rd overall pick to back up QB in SF in 6 years. Definitely something a bust does.
But he’s revitalized his career and showing off the talent that made him the 3rd overall pick.
In order to get rid of the bust status Darnold is going to need to produce more good years than bad years in his career.
Darnold is no longer a bust. He’s a late bloomer who played for two of the worst franchises in the NFL at developing QB’s.