With Free Agency Impending, The Sam Darnold Sweepstakes Have Begun

The Minnesota Vikings had a shockingly successful 2024 NFL season – at least relative to expectations – in large part due to the meteoric rise of quarterback Sam Darnold, a journeyman quarterback on a one-year deal. His presumptive price and the drafting of J.J. McCarthy, though, made Darnold remaining unlikely in the long-term. Now, following a Wild Card meltdown, it’s time for the Vikings to revive the quarterback question.

Darnold put up 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2024, with a passer rating of 102.5. He also effectively won the Vikings’ Wild Card matchup for the opposing Los Angeles Rams, spontaneously losing pocket awareness so thoroughly that he was sacked nine times. His QBR was 13.6.

Regardless of regular season performance, it’s difficult to justify retaining a quarterback who’s let the fans down in a moment of such spectacular hope.

As a contract seems increasingly unlikely, the next viable option for the Vikings would be a franchise tag – which would guarantee Darnold a bit over $40 million in 2025 and around $48.3 million for 2026 if he is tagged again. That number would eat up over two thirds of Minnesota’s cap space for 2025. While it would remain an option to trade Darnold under the tag, there’s no certainty of a deal. Unsurprisingly, there is reportedly “not much momentum” on the side of the franchise tag.

Meanwhile, with Matthew Stafford off the table, teams like the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers are willing to pay a lot for a veteran quarterback. If Darnold hits free agency on March 12, he’ll have no shortage of suitors.

The Raiders and Giants are reportedly the most serious contenders, and that has a lot to do with desperation. If you watched football this season, you may remember that the Raiders split time between three backup-pedigree quarterbacks, while the Giants benched and then cut Daniel Jones, their former ‘quarterback of the future.”

The most likely scene is this: three or four teams each backed into their own corner, hoping Darnold will solve their QB worries. Darnold, who will take advantage of the high-pressure quarterback market to secure a deal for probably more than he’s worth.

And the Vikings? Well, star wideout Justin Jefferson isn’t worried about that.

“I’m not sure who the quarterback is going to be, and just like I said last year, it truly doesn’t matter personally to me,” Jefferson said. “It doesn’t matter who’s going to throw me that ball, I’m gonna make the most of my opportunities. I’m gonna try to make him look like the best quarterback in the whole NFL.”