Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center during OTAs. Darnold joined the Vikings' roster in March 2024 during free agency, on deck as a Kirk Cousins replacement and sharing the QB room later with rookie passer J.J. McCarthy of Michigan.
Minnesota Vikings fans just want to enjoy the ride, but Bleacher Report has other plans.
Sam Darnold, the Vikings’ QB1, is employed on a one-year deal with a team showcasing grand plans for rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy tore his meniscus last month, indisputably handing the QB1 baton for Darnold for at least one season.
And Darnold is thriving. He leads the NFL in touchdown passes through three games (8) and ranks seventh per EPA+CPOE, an efficiency metric measuring expected wins added. Now, however, some see the writing on the wall that McCarthy will take his QB1 throne in 2025, thus making Darnold’s future in Minnesota uncertain.
So, Bleacher Report says the Tennessee Titans for Darnold, a club in conversations regarding the NFL’s worst team to start the season. “Maybe Will Levis proves he deserves another shot next season. Maybe he doesn’t. Either way, the Titans should be prepared to at least add a veteran who could compete for the job. Sam Darnold is on pace to become the latest signal-caller to enjoy a post-hype breakout as a serviceable starter,” BR’s collective staff wrote this week.
Indeed, Darnold is scheduled to hit open free agency in March, though the Vikings could prevent it with the stroke of a pen. Make no mistake, however — the great debate is coming, especially if Darnold propels Minnesota a deep playoff run. In a matter of months, purple fans will line up on faults lines, deciding “Darnold or McCarthy” for 2025. It’s comin’.
“If the Vikings want to transition to J.J. McCarthy next season, then Darnold could be a surprisingly in-demand free agent,” BR concluded about the concept of Darnold to Tennessee.
When Darnold free-agent chats arrive, the element of money will be vital, too. McCarthy lives on the Vikings’ budget with a rookie contract no matter what. Darnold’s current 45-touchdown pace will earn the veteran passer at least $40 million somewhere, almost as a starting price for negotiations. While Vikings fans may want Darnold back as a 2025 insurance policy, he won’t be gettable for his 2024 price of $10 million.
Otherwise, for simpler minds, folks can simply relish the Darnold experience for 14 more regular season games and worry about Darnold v. McCarthy later.
The Vikings travel to Green Bay on Sunday for a meeting with the Packers. Green Bay is favored to prevail by two points.
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.