CBS Sports Claims Vikings Free Agent Is Top Dog
The Minnesota Vikings have 25 players on tap to test free agency, a process that kicks off in 26 days with “legal tampering” around the NFL.
CBS Sports Claims Vikings Free Agent Is Top Dog
The purple team has around $60 million to spend on in-house and external free agents, so March should be a bonanza for the franchise.
And according to CBS Sports, the Vikings just so happen to employ the league’s top free-agent prize: quarterback Sam Darnold.
Pete Prisco sized up the NFL’s Top 100 free agents, and among other Vikings players, including Cam Robinson (OT), Camryn Bynum (S), Byron Murphy Jr. (CB), and Aaron Jones (RB), Darnold checked in at No. 1.
“Darnold is coming off his best season in the league by far, rejuvenating a career that looked to be derailed. He threw 35 touchdowns and 12 picks last season in leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record. But Darnold didn’t play well in the season finale, losing to the Lions, and also didn’t play well in the playoff loss to the Rams,” Prisco wrote.
The veteran passer played wonderfully for Minnesota through 16 games but collapsed in the final two games, which, inconveniently, were the most important.
“The Vikings probably won’t bring him back after drafting J.J. McCarthy in the first round last year, only to see him suffer a knee injury in training camp. The Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans could be spots for Darnold, who will likely command a deal that pays an average of close to $40 million per season. Would I pay that? I do think it’s risky, but if you don’t have a quarterback, you better get one,” Prisco added.
The Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants have also been listed as possible Darnold suitors.
Prisco concluded, “Sam Darnold resurrected his career with the Vikings, putting up big numbers and leading them to the playoffs. But he fizzled in his final two games, including a playoff loss, and that has some personnel people concerned. Even so, in a quarterback-needy league, he will get action if the Vikings don’t keep him off the market. I’d look for a deal near $40 million per season.”
Meanwhile, the Vikings seem ready to commit to J.J. McCarthy this offseason. “We drafted him 10th overall for a reason,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell told CBS Sports on Saturday about McCarthy, the man on deck to lead the franchise.
O’Connell added, “I believe Sam [Darnold] has played himself into being kind of the marquee free-agent quarterback available. I do believe that his teammates and coaches, our front office, and myself would love to have Sam back in Minnesota. But at the same time we do feel very confident in J.J. McCarthy. He’s healthy.”
And if O’Connell is ready to hand McCarthy the keys, Darnold is evidently the league’s most coveted free agent.
Minnesota would likely re-sign Daniel Jones for QB2 duty if Darnold skedaddled in March.
It’s Official on Brian Flores
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.