CBS Sports Defines Vikings’ Top Offseason Priority
The Minnesota Vikings have 2.5 weeks of the offseason in the books, and so far, the club has extended head coach Kevin O’Connell for the long haul and appears to be on track to welcome defensive coordinator Brian Flores back for Year No. 3.
CBS Sports Defines Vikings’ Top Offseason Priority
And according to CBS Sports, the Vikings’s top priority this offseason is fairly clear: decide on a quarterback.
For most Vikings fans, the choice is clear — start rookie J.J. McCarthy and let it ride. McCarthy’s teammate, Sam Darnold, played tremendously in 2024 but floundered in the season’s final two games when it mattered the most. Therefore, most have accepted that Darnold was a one-hit wonder, at least per his soon-to-be price tag.
Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports identified every team’s offseason to-do item, and for Minnesota, he wrote, “Who’s the quarterback? Do the Vikings commit long term to Sam Darnold after his Pro Bowl season? Or do they let Darnold walk in favor of first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy due to his performance over the last two games?”
If Darnold departs, teams like the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Seattle Seahawks could explore his free agency.
“Darnold could make over $40 million next year, but is it worth signing him if the end game isn’t an NFC contender? This may be the biggest decision of any franchise over the entire offseason,” Kerr added.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spoke positively about McCarthy’s injury recovery two weeks ago, indicating the young passer had encountered no major hiccups. “He’s on the field, throwing and training. He looks great. He’s excited. You talk about a kid who’s just obsessed with football and loves being around the game. So, we’re excited about what we have in him. We’re excited for this offseason for him. It’s a big offseason. And then, we’ll continue from there,” Adofo-Mensah said.
“But I can’t sit here and tell you I know anything for certain. I know that I’m willing to believe in the person that we have. That position is about talent and preparation — and he’s got those things in spades. So, if that’s the course of action we decide, we’ll go in there confidently,” he added.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the choice is pretty straightforward: Minnesota will hand the baton to McCarthy, sticking to the original plan. “I believe Sam Darnold will still draw real interest this offseason — and a little competition can quickly drive up his price — but I have a hard time seeing him back in Minnesota. J.J. McCarthy is the future,” Schultz tweeted on January 16th.
What’s more, Darnold appeared to say farewell last week. “Year 7… So grateful for my teammates, coaches, and the entire organization. We created memories and relationships that will last a lifetime and we got to do it in front of the best fanbase in the world #SKOL,” Darnold wrote Friday evening on Instagram.
Choosing a quarterback path for 2025 is, indeed, the top offseason priority for Minnesota, but it may already be done, at least at a high level.
NFL free agency is six weeks away.
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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