After a career year on a one-year, prove-it contract, there was a bit of an expectation that Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold had done an impressive bit of work to improve his contract outlook for 2025. The way the 2025 offseason has been developing, though, it’s looking like it might be a bit of a challenge for Darnold to make the most of his upward momentum, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. 
It almost seemed like the NFL had given up on Darnold as a starter in the league. After showing promise winning seven of 13 starts in a sophomore campaign for the Jets, any hopes were dashed when he went 2-10as a starter the next year. The Panthers gave New York some decent value in a trade just to see Darnold go 4-7 in his first year with the team and be relegated to the bench the following season.
As a free agent in 2023, Darnold signed with the 49ers having to win the backup quarterback job behind Brock Purdy over Trey Lance. After winning the backup job, he made one start in 10 appearances, getting the lowest playtime of his career.
Despite having just spent a year as a backup, Darnold signed a one-year, $10MM deal with the Vikings, who were moving on from long-time passer Kirk Cousins and drafting the College Football National Championship-winning quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Michigan. Signing Darnold gave them a backup option in case McCarthy was not quite ready to take the reins as a rookie. His extensive experience as a starter made him a valuable option to compete for the starting job with the 21-year-old, an option who could also serve as a strong backup should the rookie win the job.
That competition was cut short, though, when McCarthy suffered a meniscus injury that required a full repair surgery, forcing him to miss his entire rookie season. Darnold stepped into the starting role and led the Vikings to competition for the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC with a 14-3 record, recording career highs in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) while only throwing 12 picks. Darnold and the Vikings became the surprise of the season, and the expectation was that his value as a free agent would skyrocket as a result.
Understandably, it was potential trade target Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles that drew the most attention from teams desiring to acquire a veteran quarterback in the offseason. Now that he’s remaining with the Rams, Darnold has become the new top option. The Raiders are a team that were trying hard for Stafford, but multiple sources at The Athletic claim that they were only willing to shell out serious cash for Stafford.
After the Raiders, it’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to spend serious money on the position. The Vikings have explored tagging options, but they’re extremely prepared to hand the team over to McCarthy and won’t likely be willing to dedicate much salary to Darnold to return. The Browns are already stuck paying $92MM over the next two years to continue watching Deshaun Watson not play. The Saints are sticking with Derek Carr. The Jets and Giants are theoretically options, but per Volin, it doesn’t seem like Darnold is interested in reuniting with New York and MetLife.
Tennessee seems like one of the best options to explore his value. The Titans seem to have interest in riding the Will Levis train for a bit longer, and Darnold might be a pricey bridge option. Tennessee could also use their No. 1 overall draft pick on a quarterback and, once again, use Darnold as a competitor for their rookie. Or, if pairing Darnold with Levis satisfies their needs, they could trade out of the top spot, acquiring additional draft capital while likely still being able to draft a talented first-rounder.
The best option may just be to return to Minnesota, though. The Vikings have already made it known they’re not willing to commit to a big-money, long-term deal, but he knows he fits well in the building and remains as a starting option if McCarthy struggles early. It’s disappointing that Darnold’s big year may not get rewarded in the way many expected, but he still has some interesting options to make the most of his situation.
Looked who he played with this year, JJ, Addison, Hockenson, and Aaron Jones. It wasn’t Darnold’s “talent” that helped him. It was the system and players around him.
Needless to say, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have value, especially for the Vikings.
If the Vikings are convinced that that they don’t really need Darnold-as it sounds like they may not-they have cheaper veteran options, too. Cousins and Rodgers would both be cheaper, and possibly players, despite being significantly older or not fully healthy. The Vikings don’t seem to want a long commitment, anyway, having spent what they did on McCarthy, so the age isn’t as big a factor here. Tagging Darnold is an option, but if Minnesota doesn’t want to spend, they do have cheaper options outside of that they could explore.
Daniel Jones is the most likely alternative to Darnold, unless he is offered a starting job elsewhere.
not to be a smart ass, but all free agent QBs market is “limited”. No top half QB ever reaches the open market, and the only suitors are those who do not have an answer in place and are not within striking distance for the draft.
That being said, of the available suitors (Vegas, Tennessee, Indianapolis, New York Giants, and more) the Darnold market should be robust, relatively speaking. The draft’s best prospect, Cam Ward, does not look better than Darnold. A free agent QB has never put together a first-16-game performance like Darnold just did, while understanding how dreadful the season ended. His own incumbent team is interested in retaining him.
I expect a competitive bidding war.
Smart ass
dumb ass
@blahx3
The question for those possible suitors you mentioned is can Darnold continue being a solid starter or is he essentially a backup who had a one-off strong year in 2024? It’s my understanding he is seeking Baker Mayfield type money and that would be a large investment if he were to regress to backup form.
Drew Brees signing with the Saints as a free agent from the Chargers would like a word
Best destination would be Steelers for Darnold. Pitt needs to add to their offense around Pickens. Could draft Colston Loveland. Luther Burden III, or Emeka Egbuka in the first. And double up with WR Elic Ayomanor in the 2nd.
Either way whoever the QB is the receiving room needs from improvements.
The QB room got them in the playoffs last year. They seem to have their preferred choice between Fields and Wilson, 2 QBs some teams are simply hoping to land.
They should be just as hesitant to sign Darnold as other teams. He does seem to be a product of the system, albeit very good in that system up north.
As far as the draft, they’ll continue to be a pretender unless they add a DT in round 1.
Running back is a huge necessity as well likely round 2
WR can be addressed via trade or free agency. They don’t have the luxory of using a high pick on one. I’d love to see a trade for Cooper Kupp
Other FA options include Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper
Any of those guys can stop gap WR for a season while the roster is fixed in more crucial areas. Not that the steelers aren’t bleak at WR, just that that is a way easier position to fix
The only two spots in this draft class that seem really deep are RB and DL. That plays to the Steelers needs. Their opening free agency moves before the draft will tip their hand for the rest of the off-season.
FWIW I want Derrick Harmon in the first round and one of Nick Emmanwori or Omarion Hampton if either are still available at pick 53. WR is a need but it’s easier to do without as opposed to a D-line, running game or leaky secondary.
Browns should offer him a juicy 2 year deal and prepare to take their lump sum losses with Watson.
Browns do not have the cap space to add him.
Cousins on the cheap (“Thanks, ATL!”) remains the best option for the Browns.
It’s a good thought, but Hawk’s right. At the moment at least, Cleveland’s pretty jammed up capwise. Without some major developments, they’re going to have limited spending capacity.
I agree ..Great idea but money is tight
Can’t they free up cap tho @Hawk?
Well, they could cut Wyatt Teller post June 1st, but that’d be pretty detrimental to their offensive line and I don’t think that it’s being considered. Minus a restructure from Watson, it’s hard to see obvious money saving moves that don’t involve losing a good player. They already figure to lose Newsome for that reason, which also hurts their secondary.
Anything is possible
Because of the salary cap, should teams pay a lot of money for quarterback who is not elite, or should they sign a cheaper quarterback and use the savings for other players? Maybe Darnold is worth $25 Million relative to Mahomes, but would teams be better off signing a guy who is worth $10M relative to Mahomes and signing a left tackle for $15M?
They could….but won’t be easy. I think Browns are at minus 29 million. Garrett trade will help some.
Most of his success seemed like it was because of who was around him to be honest. Not to mention he looked horrible down the stretch
The QB moves are two simultaneous games of musical chairs. The teams are going to go after the QBs they want, and one or more teams are going to be left out. Same thing for the QBs, don’t overrate your value, you might be left out.
1 yr/$30-$35MM with an option is a safe bet on any other team.
Not at all surprising. Is O’Connell, Jefferson, and Addison coming with him? I don’t think so.
I keep reading comments about him benefitting from “the system” but that overlooks what he’s never had with NYJ nor CAR (and didn’t have playing time in SF): “the protection”
I think some fans like to toss around that word “system” hoping they’ll impress others. There’s a system to making a cup of coffee too and I imagine some of these people would struggle to get that right 🙂
Darnold was awful at the end of the season. There were two “playoff” games. One for the top seed, and one wild card. Darnold was awful in both.
Both teams put pressure on Darnold. Every DC now knows that the best way to get Darnold throwing into the ground and throwing interceptions again, just like in his NYJ years, is to pressure him. Darnold is fool’s gold. Just enough to get you to the ball, sure to send you home in the first round. He’s not the only anti-clutch QB, Kirk Cousins historically has performed worse, the more important the game.
Antidote – give Darnold an extremely stout offensive line. How? Out of Darnold’s missing contract money. Darnold could be worth $35 million if he could handle pressure. He’s worth $15, maybe $20, million as is. The remaining $20 million needs to be spent on offensive line.
Why go to a team that does not have the offensive talent that Minnesota has. If you have success stay with the program.