Nov 10, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images. The Vikings defeated the Jaguars 12-7, thanks to four field goals from new kicker Parker Romo, upping their record to 7-2.
VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s Vikings rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the November 16th edition.
Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the purple team, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Here’s the first batch of the week. All past rumors can be read here.
Per ESPN, the Los Angeles Rams could be a suitor for Darnold — which would make all the sense in the world. For Darnold’s success to continue, he might need a coach from the Shanahan coaching tree, and well, Sean McVay is basically the non-Kyle-Shanahan poster child for that club.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote last weekend while examining Darnold’s post-Vikings options: “My wild-card pick here is the Rams, assuming Matthew Stafford decides to move on (which I’m not reporting, but Stafford is obviously year-to-year at this point of his career). Darnold had a nice season with Kyle Shanahan in a backup role in San Francisco last season and has obviously done well with Kevin O’Connell this year, so he knows the basics of the offense Sean McVay runs.”
“And McVay is the kind of coach — like Shanahan and O’Connell — who would design things to make Darnold as comfortable as possible and put him in the best position to succeed,” Graziano continued.
If Darnold leaves Minnesota in 2025 in pursuit of a $40M+ contract — he probably will — getting stuck on a lowly franchise per quarterback development like the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, or Tennessee Titans would do him no justice. McVay and the Rams, on the other hand, would just be a continuation of his relationship with Kevin O’Connell.
Jot it down: Sometime down the line, Darnold will probably join forces with McVay — whenever Stafford steps away.
Last weekend, Pioneer Press’ Charley Walters wrote that 2025 and beyond would be the J.J. McCarthy era in Minnesota, with Darnold likely hitting free agency and joining a new club for $40 million per year. At that price point, the Vikings would say, “See ya.”
Walters explained, “Sam Darnold has guided the Vikings to an improbable 6-2 start. But the way it looks now, the Vikings’ quarterback next season will be rookie J.J. McCarthy, not Darnold. That’s because, if the Vikings get to the postseason and do well, Darnold, just 27, as a free agent could cost nearly $40 million a year on a new contract. McCarthy, 21, although unproven and out for the season due to knee surgery, is in the first year of a $21.85 million, four-year contract.”
Walters added, “For the Vikings to even consider a mega-deal for Darnold, it’s likely he would have to take them to the NFC championship game or even the Super Bowl. The Vikings this year already have extended sizable contracts to Justin Jefferson ($140 million) and Christian Darrisaw ($113 million), and last year to T.J. Hockenson ($69 million).”
It’s a safe bet that McCarthy will take the keys in 2025. Minnesota likely won’t be able to afford Darnold’s asking price.
Flores wants to be a head coach again. It just has to be the “right opportunity,” Flores told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
In fact, Flores told Schefter he would love to head coach again. “Now, I may get some resistance from my kids, who are having a great time here in Minnesota. They’re having a fantastic time here just with school, and basketball, and football, and friendships and things like that. I think I’d get a little resistance, but for me personally, it’s something that I’d love to do again. With that said, Minnesota has been a great spot for me. My family, we’re really enjoying it,” Flores said this week.
Flores also told Schefter he loves working with Vikings skipper Kevin O’Connell. “It’s been fantastic. He’s all about vibe and energy and having the right energy across the board. I’ve been a few other places, this is the first time I’m working for an offensive head coach. So, to see that dynamic… really just spend time with him on his thought process from an offensive standpoint. That’s been new and different for me. Seeing the head coach-quarterback dynamic, because he’s really the best in the business from that standpoint, and just watching that dynamic.”
Keep an eye on teams like the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and Cleveland Browns for Flores’ landing HC landing spots.
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.