Aaron Jones, Jonathan Greenard, Jordan Addison and Cam Bynum spoke with reporters after mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, June 5th, 2024, at TCO Performance Center. The Vikings signed Jones during the 2024 free agency period, a replacement for Alexander Mattison, who joined the Las Vegas Raiders roster.
For the first time since 2017, the Minnesota Vikings will feature a quarterback not named Kirk Cousins in a Week 1 game, pivoting to veteran Sam Darnold after Cousins left for the Atlanta Falcons in free agency six months ago.
Minnesota also drafted a rookie passer, J.J. McCarthy, but he’s on the shelf for all of his rookie season with a torn meniscus.
And some hype for Darnold is so grand that his teammates are offering bold declarations — in the form of Comeback Player of the Year endorsements.
New Vikings running back Aaron Jones — a defector from the Green Bay Packers — nominated Darnold for the award this week via bold prediction. “He can really play. I’m calling it now, Comeback Player of the Year,” Jones told FOX9 with the regular season scheduled to kick off Sunday.
Jones also took the leap of comparing Darnold to his former Packer quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love, if that can be believed. “You talk about being able to spin the ball, come in and command a huddle, and being a true leader, he’s right there with those guys,” Jones explained, likening Darnold to Rodgers and Love.
Darnold has actually received oodles of kudos this week. Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner prognosticated big things from Darnold against the New York Giants. Warner said this week that he expects Darnold to have the best debut of any Week 1 quarterback in the NFL when Minnesota travels to New Jersey for the showdown with the Giants. “I always like great stories. This is a guy that was drafted in New York. He’s going back to New York with a different team. I love his supporting cast, this being Sam Darnold. His supporting cast in Minnesota,” Warner declared.
“Coach O’Connell first of all, but Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, you got Aaron Jones in the backfield. Best weapons he’s had around him. I believe he goes into New York and has a great performance in Week 1,” Warner added.
Drafted in 2018 by the New York Jets with the third overall pick, Darnold has not caught fire a consistent starter through six seasons. He’s played for the Jets, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers, with no team taking the plunge for a second contract. We shall see if Minnesota is a more advantageous fit for the 27-year-old.
Vikings at Giants will mark Darnold’s 21st career start at MetLife Stadium. Darnold has +3000 odds to win the CPOY award mentioned by Jones — the fourth best in the sport behind Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Deshaun Watson.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.