Talking Head Says Vikings Will Regret Big Offseason Move
When the NFL calendar turned to the offseason for the Minnesota Vikings, at the top of the priority list lived quarterback Sam Darnold.
Talking Head Says Vikings Will Regret Big Offseason Move
Fans intently monitored the team’s doings, waiting to see if Minnesota would re-up with Darnold for a year or two, or let ‘er rip with J.J. McCarthy, the man chosen by the Vikings with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Minnesota ultimately chose McCarthy over Darnold, allowing Darnold to hit free agency and sign a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
And according to Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd, the Vikings will regret the decision to let Darnold walk.
Colin Cowherd Warns Vikings Will Miss Sam Darnold
Cowherd, known for assertive and bombastic takes, claimed Minnesota would finish in last place in the NFC North this season and rue letting Darnold leave.
“I think the Bears eke into the playoffs. I think Jordan Love, I like. I think they’re worried about him … they’ve got a couple other needs defensively, and they went with a wide receiver again. Vikings will be a very good fourth-place team. I think letting Sam Darnold go, I think they may regret it,” Cowherd opined this week.
It’s worth noting that Cowherd had been bullish on the Vikings in past seasons under quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold.
The newfound pessimism is a change of pace.
They Won’t Miss Darnold’s Faceplant, That’s For Sure
Darnold strutted into the Twin Cities last fall and promptly led Minnesota to a wonderful 14-3 record with 36 total touchdowns and 4,319 passing yards to his name.
The man even flirted with MVP chatter at points in the season, totally revitalizing his career with head coach Kevin O’Connell’s tutelage.
Then, however, the bottom fell out.
With homefield advantage at stake in Week 18, taking on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, Darnold morphed into the old Darnold and even played worse than the Old Darnold.
Minnesota lost homefield advantage and subsequently journeyed on the road for the postseason. It had to get better, right? Nope. In the playoffs, Darnold continued his rotten streak, playing abysmally against the Los Angeles Rams, causing Minnesota to fire up a dreaded one-and-done playoff showing.
The two-game faceplant soured his future in Minnesota, and now he works in Seattle.
The McCarthy Era Begins
With Darnold out of the way, the Vikings embark on the J.J. McCarthy era after six years of Cousins and one of Darnold.
The NFC North is brutally competitive, to be sure, but all hope rests on McCarthy’s shoulders. Thankfully, Minnesota has surrounded McCarthy with a bevy of playmakers, along with a defensive roster to die for.
Even if Minnesota finished in last place, per Cowherd, with a 7-10 record of so, onlookers would be optimistic about McCarthy’s career trajectory. He basically needs to “look the part” as a young passer.
No Vikings Fan Misses Darnold
Ask around. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Vikings fan who misses Darnold. The masses are excited about the McCarthy era, and in fact, many have asked for this since 2019 or so. Cousins divided the fan base, and the group may be reunited for the first time in eight years.
Nobody — nobody anywhere — will miss the guy who utterly turned into a pumpkin when it mattered most. Many long-time fans are happy he’s gone.
Seahawks Media Skeptical of Darnold
Some Seahawks-themed media seems a bit skittish about Darnold in the Emerald City.
12thManRising.com‘s Lee Vowell wrote last month, “Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is already on the hot seat. For the first time in his career, the quarterback has to prove his value while being paid a lot. He signed a three-year deal with Seattle that will pay him a maximum of $100.5 million. With that much money comes a lot of pressure.”
“If Darnold had signed with Seattle for much less and was going to battle for the starting quarterback spot, then there would have been a lot less pressure on him, of course. Prior to 2024, his career win-loss record was 21-35. He had thrown 63 touchdown passes but 56 interceptions.”
Seattle later drafted Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe after Vowell’s article.
Vowell added, “Seahawks general manager John Schneider is putting a lot of faith in Darnold’s 2024 season, which is what the quarterback will need to come close to for the next few years.”
“Of course, if Darnold does regress to pre-2024 levels, the Seahawks could release him after next season. He has no guaranteed money on his contract after 2025. That would mean the team would have to start over at the most critical position in football. Seattle might save some money by moving on from Darnold, but the future would look less bright than if he does well.”
The Seahawks also signed veteran passer Drew Lock this offseason.
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