On Tuesday, the deadline to place franchise tags on players arrived, and the Minnesota Vikings let it pass without putting one on quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold, who won 14 games last season in his first year in Purple (but participated in season-ending losses to Detroit and the Rams) will become a free agent next week if the Viking don’t resign him before then. Thus begins in earnest the Vikings’ QB questions, regarding what to do with Sam, do you bring back Daniel Jones and is JJ McCarthy physically ready to become the new starting signal caller.
This move was not unexpected, as the Vikings likely would have tagged Darnold if they had a willing training partner in waiting for him. But it seems that no team would want to trade for a contract (that would have been upwards of $40 million-plus a year with the franchise tag) and then have to let of the players and/or draft picks the Vikings would have been seeking. It makes sense to wait until free agency and try to lure Darnold, fresh off his best season as a pro (including a Pro Bowl appearance) away from Minnesota, not unlike the Kirk Cousins scenario in Atlanta last season.
Further complicating the Vikings QB situation is that the Indianapolis Colts are reportedly (rumored?) to be interested in Jones, who spent part of the season on the Minnesota practice squad before being elevated to the roster so the Vikings can receive a compensatory pick next season if Jones does indeed signs with another team.
Meanwhile, McCarty, coming off of season-ending knee surgery, is said to be on track for the beginning of offseason workouts this Spring, and likely is champing at the bit to get behind center for the Purple. The QB intrigue is increasing, and the fellas at Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast—Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory.com and purplePTSD.com and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com—are here to break it all down. Tune in and check it out. Skol!
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