Hall of Fame TE Says “Nope” to Vikings QB in 2025
Some Minnesota Vikings fans have totally embraced the moment with quarterback Sam Darnold — rightfully so — as the reclamation passer has led the purple team to an 11-2 record through 14 weeks of the regular season.
Hall of Fame TE Says “Nope” to Vikings QB in 2025
But that doesn’t mean Darnold should be back in the saddle in 2025 as the team’s QB1, says Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe.
The boisterous ex-NFLer is all over the place these days with hot takes, and the Vikings were not immune this week. “You just invested a top-ten pick in J.J. McCarthy. There’s no guarantee. Quarterback is the only position that they’ll pay you based on potential or if you have one good year. Every other position you got to put multiple years together in order to get paid. Ja’Marr Chase put together three, four years, they won’t pay him,” Sharpe said Monday on ESPN’s First Take.
Darnold dimed 5 touchdown passes to no interceptions or fumbles last weekend over the Atlanta Falcons, vividly outplaying Kirk Cousins, the Falcons’ quarterback and man who led Minnesota at quarterback for six seasons.
In fact, Darnold has absolutely reclaimed his career in Minnesota. He’s on pace for 4,300 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, and 13 picks. Those are MVP numbers, and Darnold would be in the race if Buffalo Bills signal-caller Josh Allen didn’t have the trophy all but wrapped up.
“Sam Darnold, now he’s bounced around. I get it he’s played unbelievable. I didn’t think he had this in him, but he does have Jordan Addison. He has Hockenson. He has JJettas. He has Aaron Jones. And he’s backed it up playing well. And he’s going to make a boatload of money somewhere else. I hope they bring those guys with him when he goes, but with that being said, absolutely not,” Sharpe added about the possibility of the Vikings keeping Darnold at QB1 in 2025.
“You drafted J.J. McCarthy for a reason. If J.J. McCarthy hadn’t got hurt, Sam Darnold wouldn’t even see the field, so absolutely not.”
Indeed, Minnesota used the 10th overall pick on McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft, and there is no indication that the franchise would discard him for Darnold. Some fans have wondered, “What if the Vikings win the Super Bowl with Darnold? Then what?” That’s the only real question regarding the Darnold-McCarthy debate.
Otherwise, the franchise belongs to McCarthy, and Darnold will likely latch onto a new team in March.
Sharpe played 15 seasons in the NFL and won three Super Bowls.
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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.
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