Popular Voice Suggests Wild QB Idea for Vikings

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold produced an awful game on Sunday, diming 3 interceptions to no touchdowns en route to his team’s 12-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Popular Voice Suggests Wild QB Idea for Vikings

And according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the performance was so poor that the Vikings should contemplate the free-agent addition of Ryan Tannehill.

Tennessee Titans quarterback R. Tannehill (17) exits the field after their loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. © Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK.

That’s the latest and greatest theory from the national media, not content with Minnesota’s 7-2 record and holding Darnold to a different standard than Jared Goff, for example, who threw 5 picks on Sunday night. Goff and the Lions’ showing in a comeback win over the Houston Texans was called “gritty.” Minnesota’s squeak-it-out triumph resulted in Tannehill theories. What a world.

Florio tweeted during Jaguars-Vikings, “Is it crazy to wonder what Kevin O’Connell could do with Ryan Tannehill down the stretch? Because it really looks like the Sam Darnold chariot has turned back into a pumpkin.”

qb idea
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Tannehill curiously hasn’t signed anywhere in the NFL this season, and in fact, it’s a bit odd that no team has taken the plunge, especially after quarterbacks like Dak Prescott and Deshaun Watson have hit the shelf due to injury.

The Voice of the Vikings Paul Allen responded to Florio on X with a “no thanks” comment, and Florio replied, “Ceiling once again is divisional round.”

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A Divisional Round playoff exit by the Vikings would’ve been utterly cherished and exalted by fans 2-3 months ago because Minnesota was only supposed to win 6.5 wins, per oddsmakers. Reaching the second round of the postseason would not be disappointing for the Vikings in 2024, which was known as a transformational season in the first place. The next step in Vikings football is all about rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who should take the franchise’s reins in 2025. McCarthy tore his meniscus in August, ending his rookie campaign.

Adding Tannehill might be a wise solution if Darnold fell injured. He’s started 151 games in the league and delivered 243 touchdowns.

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It’s just that the Vikings won’t run from adversity involving Darnold at the first whiff of a problem. No quarterback sails through a season without turmoil, and this is Darnold’s turmoil. This exact moment. There’s also the reality that Tannehill would have to learn Minnesota’s offense in a hurry, and if Darnold were benched at all, an in-house option like Nick Mullens would get a look.

Tannehill is a fine injury contingency plan. But the Vikings won’t say goodbye to Darnold after a bad game.

Just like the Lions won’t sign Tannehill because Goff tossed 5 picks on Sunday Night Football.


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 MIN 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.