Vikings Appear To Be Leaning One Way With Sam Darnold Decision
01/17/2025 10:45 AM
Despite leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-win season for the first time since the turn of the century, quarterback Sam Darnold is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. And it's long been believed he doesn't fit into the team's long-term plans.
When the Vikings first signed Darnold last season, the plan was for him to compete with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy for the starting job. McCarthy was believed to have won the starting job in training camp, but his rookie season ended before it could even begin with a torn meniscus. That forced the Vikings to change plans and make Darnold the starter while giving McCarthy a redshirt year.
However, after throwing for over 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns while becoming the first Vikings quarterback to win 14 games in a season, the Vikings may be sorely tempted to scrap all of their plans for McCarthy entirely.
One NFL insider believes that could very well be the decision.
Appearing on KFAN, NFL insider Tom Pelissero asserted that the "smart money" would be on Darnold returning to the Vikings in 2025, most likely under a franchise tag designation. Pelissero explained that Darnold's struggles in Week 18 and the Wild Card Weekend loss to the Los Angeles Rams might even make it easier for the Vikings to sign him to a long-term deal if the market for his services dries up because of it.
"I would still say, the smart money would be Sam Darnold being back in Minnesota," Pelissero said. "And if anything, what happened in those last two games might make it simpler to get him back."
"I would still say, the smart money would be Sam Darnold being back in Minnesota."
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) January 16, 2025
-@TomPelissero on the outlook for the @Vikings at QBpic.twitter.com/gF6kHQZzFA
But Pelissero conceded that the question of Darnold's future with the Vikings may ultimately come down to whether they can simply get a deal done before free agency.
"The question is can he get a deal done? And if you can't, do you use the tag? Or do you say, 'Go ahead and see what your market is, we're probably going to get this deal done because this is the best place for you,'" Pelissero added.
The quarterback market is looking pretty dry this offseason with very few established starters set to hit the open market.
Darnold has the potential to cash in in a big way. Whether that's with Minnesota or some other team, we'll just have to wait and see.
Related: Sam Darnold Shares Initial Reaction To Vikings Signing Daniel Jones
